One afternoon at the Wood Oak City Police Department, best friends and city heroes Adam Hunter, Axel Stone, and Blaze Fielding had just wrapped up their work for the day, and the latter two were discussing the group's plans for the rest of the day.
"I was thinking maybe we could all hit the gym together and get some training in", Blaze said.
"I'm all for it", Axel said, "we need to be ready in case the Syndicate shows up again."
"Great", Blaze said, "how about you, Adam?"
But Adam didn't reply.
"Did you hear me, Adam", Blaze asked.
Adam was too busy talking on his phone to hear Blaze.
"You've got it marked, right", Adam asked, "table for two at 7:00 tonight."
The person on the other end spoke, and Adam nodded his head as he listened.
"Okay, good", Adam said, "just wanted to check to be sure."
Adam hung up his phone and went over to his two partners.
"Okay, guys", Adam said, "ready to go?"
"Yeah", Blaze said, "we've been ready."
"Who were you talking to", Axel asked.
"Oh, no one", Adam said, "just checking to confirm a reservation I made."
"A reservation", Blaze asked.
"For a date", Adam said, "I met this girl a few nights ago, and I invited her out to dinner tonight."
"That's nice", Blaze said.
"Yeah", Axel said, "good for you, man."
"Thanks, you guys", Adam said, "now what do you say we all head over to the gym now?"
"Right behind you", Blaze said.
The trio began walking down the sidewalk towards the gym, and Axel thought to himself about Adam and his date.
"So, Adam found himself a girlfriend", Axel thought, "lucky him."
At the gym, the three friends were all working out to make sure their bodies were in top fighting condition, with Adam was doing some weightlifting, Blaze was running on a treadmill, and Axel was practicing his moves on a punching bag.
"Okay", Axel said, "here we go."
Axel backed up, took a deep breath, and hit the sandbag with his Grand Hook move so hard that it broke off its chain, flew into the air, and hit the ceiling, then fell back on the ground in front of him.
"Oh yeah", Axel said, "I've still got it."
Adam and Blaze stopped their workouts when they heard Axel punch the sandbag, and both looked over at what he had done.
"Wow, Axel", Adam said, "you're still a hard hitter."
"It's like I was telling Blaze earlier", Axel said, "I have to stay on top of my training in case we have to go toe-to-toe against the Syndicate again."
"That's true", Adam said.
Then, he heard his phone buzz and checked to see what it was.
"Well guys, it's been fun, but I gotta go", Adam said, "I have to pick up my suit from the dry cleaners."
"Okay", Blaze said, "see you around, then."
"Thanks", Adam said, "you too."
And with that, Adam went away to pick up his suit for his date.
"I'm gonna go get a drink real quick", Axel said, "be right back."
"Okay", Blaze said.
Axel went and got a sports drink from a vending machine, and he noticed a young man talking to a woman about something.
"So, listen, my sister's getting married this weekend, and my parents said I could invite you to come along with us for it", the man said, "is that something you think you'd like to do?"
"Wow, you and me going to a gathering with your family together", the woman said, "I'd love to!"
"Great", the man said, "we're gonna have such an amazing time this weekend."
"I know", the woman said, "I'm looking forward to it already."
Seeing the couple interact romantically like that got Axel thinking to himself about something, and when he went back over to Blaze, she could tell that there was something on his mind.
"Hey, Axel", Blaze said, "is everything okay?"
"Yeah", Axel said, "everything's fine."
"Are you sure", Blaze asked, "it looks like you're lost in thought about something."
"I'm fine, really", Axel said, "now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to my workout."
"Oh", Blaze said, "okay, then."
Axel continued training himself to make sure his fighting skills were still sharp, all while Blaze watched him, still curious about what he had been thinking about earlier, and after a while, the two left the gym, and Blaze decided to take another crack at seeing what her friend was thinking about.
"Axel, hold up", Blaze said, "I wanna talk to you."
"About what", Axel asked.
"I still can't help but feel like there's something bothering you", Blaze said, "if there's something you want to get off your chest, I'm more than happy to listen."
"I appreciate the thought, Blaze", Axel said, "but I told you, there's nothing bothering me."
"I'm only trying to help", Blaze said.
"Well, thanks anyways", Axel said, "I gotta go now."
"Okay", Blaze said, "see you around, then."
"You too", Axel said.
As Axel walked down the street back towards the apartment building he lived in, he saw a couple standing by a lamppost with their arms wrapped around each other.
"You're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me", the man said, "I don't know what I'd do if you weren't in my life."
"Me neither", the woman said.
The two proceeded to kiss each other on the lips, and Axel continued on his way, and as he rounded the corner, he noticed a young man down on his knee holding out a ring in a box towards a young woman.
"Patricia", the man said, "will you make me the happiest man a live."
"Oh my gosh", Patricia said, "yes, yes, a thousand times yes!"
Patricia took the ring and put it on her finger, and Axel went on his way once again, and a few blocks before he got to his apartment building, he looked in a window and saw Adam with his date, both of them having a good time, and he thought about all the sights of love he had seen that day.
"It's like everyone in Wood Oak City has someone to love", Axel said.
When Axel finally reached his apartment, he plopped down on his bed and sighed.
"I wonder if I could ever find someone who loves me", Axel said, "I guess it would be pretty nice."
The next day at work, Adam was telling Axel and Blaze all about how his date the previous night went.
"And after I dropped her off at her house, she told me she had a great time and would be willing to do this again if I ever was", Adam said.
"Sounds like you two had a good time", Blaze said.
"We sure did", Adam said, "who'd thought something as good as this would happen to a guy like me?"
"You have no idea how lucky you are", Axel said.
"Thanks, man", Adam said.
But Blaze was able to pick up on some traces of jealousy in Axel's voice, and later that day during lunch, she decided that enough was enough, and she went over to Axel, who was eating his lunch at his desk, to find out once and for all what was on his mind.
"Axel", Blaze said, "I need to talk to you."
"About what", Axel asked.
"It seems like something's been bothering you since yesterday afternoon, and I'd like to know what it is", Blaze said, "I'm not trying to pester you, I just want to know so I can see if there's any way I can help you with it."
Axel could tell that Blaze's heart was in the right place, so at last, he decided to come clean.
"Alright", Axel said, "I guess I can tell you."
"Great", Blaze said, "so, what's on your mind?"
"Well, you see", Axel said, "lately, it seems like everywhere I go, there's always two people who love each other so much."
"You mean like Adam and his girlfriend", Blaze asked.
"Yes, like them", Axel said, "I didn't really think much whenever I saw stuff like that before, but now, I can't shake this strange feeling inside me."
"What kind of strange feeling", Blaze asked.
"That I'd like someone who I can call my own", Axel said.
"So that's the problem", Blaze said, "you're just lonely."
"I wouldn't go as far as to say that", Axel said, "but it would be nice to find someone who'll love me."
"Have you ever dated any women before", Blaze asked.
"Well, I did date this one girl when I was working as a bodyguard", Axel said, "but we broke up because I was too focused on my job."
"I see", Blaze said.
"I haven't dated any more girls since then", Axel said, "I wonder if there's even a single one in Wood Oak City who'd want to be my girlfriend."
Blaze thought to herself for a moment, and she managed to come up with an idea.
"I might know something you can try", Blaze said.
"What is it", Axel asked.
"I'll tell you about it after work", Blaze said, "but what I can say now is that you won't be sorry."
"If you say so", Axel said.
Blaze walked away, and as Axel went back to eating his lunch, he thought about Blaze's idea.
"What idea could she possibly have that could get me a girlfriend", Axel thought.
That afternoon, Axel met up with Blaze to see what it was she had planned for him.
"Okay Blaze, here I am", Axel said, "so what's this thing you've got that might help me find a girlfriend?"
"I'll show you", Blaze said.
Blaze took out her phone and showed Axel an app on it.
"Ta-da", Blaze said, "it's called Right-Left."
"Right-Left", Axel asked, "what's that?"
"It's a dating app that helps set you up with the right person", Blaze said, "you type up a bio for yourself, and it searches for potential matches for you that are in the area."
"Wow", Axel said, "that's pretty neat."
"I know", Blaze said, "this baby's revolutionized the dating world."
"If that's the case, I guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a try", Axel said.
Axel took out his phone and downloaded the app, and after uploading a photo of himself and typing in his name and age for his profile, it came time for him to type up his bio, which he was feeling unsure about.
"So, what do I say", Axel asked.
"Just be honest about yourself", Blaze said.
"Okay", Axel said, "but how should I go about doing that?"
"Maybe you could do two truths and a lie", Blaze said, "write two things about you that are true and one thing that isn't."
"Okay", Axel said, "I'll give that a shot."
Axel thought for a moment about what to put down, then got to work on his bio, and when he was done, he showed it to Blaze.
"So", Axel asked, "what do you think?"
Axel's bio listed his two truths and a lie as "I worked as a bodyguard for a while, I like to play video games, and I once competed in an international fighting tournament."
"This looks pretty good", Blaze said, "nice work, Axel."
"Thanks", Axel said.
Then, they heard a notification tone go off on Axel's phone.
"Sounds like you've already got a match", Blaze said.
She handed Axel his phone back so he could see who it was.
"What do I do now", Axel asked.
"It's simple", Blaze said, "swipe right if you like the person, swipe left if you don't like them."
"So that's where the app gets its name from", Axel said.
"That's right", Blaze said, "now let's see what you've got."
Axel checked his matches, and he found an image of a young woman on his phone.
"What do I do", Axel asked, "should I swipe right?"
"No", Blaze said, "you shouldn't settle on on someone right away."
"Oh", Axel said, "alright, then."
Axel swiped the woman's image left.
"What was that for", Blaze asked.
"You said I shouldn't settle right away", Axel said.
"I meant you should also try and get to know a person before you swipe right or left", Blaze said.
"Oh, I see", Axel said.
He then noticed that he had received another match on his phone.
"Let's see what we have here", Axel said.
Axel began reading the next woman's bio to learn more about her, and when he finished, he came to a conclusion about her.
"This girl's bio is super wordy", Axel said, "I'm swiping left."
He swiped left, and then another girl's bio came up.
"This girl's profile picture has her sitting with like, a hundred cats", Axel said, "swipe left."
Axel swiped left, and continued to do it for the next few girls who appeared as recommendations for him, and Blaze watched him.
"Looks like Axel's catching on to Right-Left pretty quickly", Blaze thought, "but I'm worried he's being a bit too picky."
Axel continued to look at girls who appeared on his phone, but he kept swiping left, and after a while, he couldn't take it anymore.
"This is hopeless", Axel said, "I'm never going to find a girl on this stupid app."
"Maybe that's because you keep swiping left", Blaze said.
"I don't feel like any of these girls are right for me", Axel said, "I'm never going to find one at this rate."
"Nobody's perfect, Axel", Blaze said, "I'm sure if you actually gave one of these girls a chance, she might end up being pretty good."
"I don't know", Axel said.
"Just trust me, okay", Blaze said, "here, let me see who your latest match is."
Blaze looked at Axel's phone and read the bio of the woman who was on it.
"It says here that her favorite food is buffalo wings, and she loves to dance at nightclubs in her spare time", Blaze said.
"I guess she sounds alright", Axel said, "but she doesn't have a profile picture."
"Some people prefer to remain anonymous", Blaze said, "at least give her a chance."
"Well, alright", Axel said, "here goes nothing."
Axel swiped left, and a letter icon appeared on his phone.
"Looks like she swiped right too", Blaze said, "now you two can chat with each other."
"Cool", Axel said, "what do I say?"
"Start by introducing yourself", Blaze said, "and try to keep it simple, too."
"Got it", Axel said.
Axel typed in 'I'm Axel, what's your name?' and the woman answered 'Eliza.'
"So far, so good", Axel said.
Axel noticed that the woman asked him what his favorite video game was, so he answered "Sonic the Hedgehog," and she replied "I like those games too," much to his happiness, and Blaze watched as her friend chatted with the girl he had found.
"I knew introducing Axel to Right-Left was a good idea", Blaze said.
Later that day, when Axel went home to his apartment, he was thinking to himself about how much he enjoyed talking to Eliza on Right-Left.
"I never thought I'd meet a girl quite like Eliza", Axel said, "but thanks to Blaze, it actually happened.
He took out his phone and looked at Eliza's profile, then smiled to himself.
"I think I'm going to really enjoy this", Axel said.
Axel spent the next couple of weeks interacting with Eliza on the app and getting to know her better, while also letter her get to know more about him, and one day while at work, he had big news for Blaze and Adam.
"Guys", Axel said, "you're never going to guess what's happening to me tonight."
"What is it", Adam asked.
"I'm meeting up with Eliza for a date night", Axel said.
"No way", Blaze said, "really?"
"That's right", Axel said, "she told me yesterday that she felt like she was ready to meet me in person, and I told her that sounded like a great idea."
"Nice going, man", Adam said, "I'm glad you met a girl you like."
"Me too", Blaze said, "where are you two going for your date?"
"To this wing place downtown", Axel said, "I picked that place because she said in her bio that she likes buffalo wings."
"Nice move, man", Adam said.
"Thanks", Axel said, "I may not have much experience with this kind of stuff, but I've got a few ideas for how to make a girl happy."
"That's good to hear", Blaze said, "I hope it all turns out good for you."
"Thanks", Axel said, "me too."
That night, Axel arrived at the restaurant at around 6:00.
"This looks like the place", Axel said, "Flyaway Wings."
Axel went inside and looked around for Eliza, when he bumped into a woman.
"Oh, I'm sorry", Axel said, "I was just..."
"No, no, it's fine", the woman said.
The woman turned around, and when Axel saw who it was, he was very surprised.
"Sweet Sega Genesis", Axel said.
The woman was none other than Electra, a former member of the Syndicate who Axel had encountered when he, Blaze, his friend Max, and Adam's younger brother Skate went on a journey to rescue Adam from Mr. X.
"Axel Stone", Electra said.
"Electra", Axel said, "what are you doing here?"
"I'm meeting up with someone for a date", Electra said, "how about you?"
"That's why I'm here too", Axel said, "I met this girl on Right-Left named Eliza, and she said she wanted to go out to dinner with me."
Electra was surprised to hear that.
"Hold on", Electra said, "you're the Axel I met on Right-Left?"
"What", Axel asked.
"I met the guy I'm waiting for on Right-Left too", Electra said, "he said his name is Axel."
"Wait a minute", Axel said, "you're Eliza?"
"Yes", Electra said, "Eliza is my real name."
Axel could hardly believe what was happening.
"Now what", Electra asked.
"Well, since we both came here for a date, we might as well go out on one", Axel said.
"Okay", Electra said, "let's do it."
Axel and Electra walked up to the cashier at the front counter.
"Hello", the cashier said, "what can I get for you tonight?"
"I'll have the 10-count boneless wings with buffalo sauce and blue cheese, please", Eliza said.
"Okay", the cashier said, "and for you?"
"I'll take a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, please", Axel said.
"Alright", the cashier said, "and will that be for here or to go?"
"For here", Axel said.
"Okay", the cashier said, "here's your total."
The cashier handed them the ticket, and Axel took out his wallet and paid her.
"Thank you", the cashier said.
"No problem", Axel said.
Axel and Electra went over to a booth and sat down, and they both sat in silence for a while, until finally, the latter broke it.
"You've never fought in an international fighting tournament before, have you", Electra asked.
"Nope", Axel said, "how'd you figure it out?"
"Just a hunch", Electra said, "I've seen a few guys who have used two truths and a lie for their bio."
"That was Blaze's idea", Axel said, "she helped set me up on Right-Left so I could find a girl in the city."
"That's nice", Electra said, "say, what made you want to do something like that, anyway?"
"It's nothing", Axel said.
"Come on, Axel", Electra said, "you can tell me."
Axel was hesitant to say anything, but after looking at Electra, he decided to come clean and told her about how seeing other people with someone they love made him realize he wanted to find someone to love too, so he let Blaze help him by setting up his account on Right-Left so he could find the girl who might be right for him.
"So you were feeling kind of lonesome", Electra said.
"You could say that", Axel said, "no offense, but of all the girls in Wood Oak City, I never imagined that the one I fell head-over-heels for would be one that I fought once."
"None taken", Electra said.
Axel noticed that Electra's right arm had a normal hand instead of the electric whip she had fitted on to it when she was fighting.
"What's up with your hand", Axel asked, "I thought you had a whip attached to your arm."
"That's just for when I'm fighting", Electra said, "I wear a normal prosthetic hand when I'm not doing anything like that."
"That's nice", Axel said.
"I haven't been using that whip much lately", Electra said.
"Why's that", Axel asked.
"After you and your friends defeated Mr. X again, I decided to try and turn over a new leaf", Electra said, "I've tried getting a job, but I can't seem to get a good enough one."
"What kind of jobs have you tried", Axel asked.
"I've been a singer at a club, a waitress at a restaurant, and a bouncer at a bar", Electra said, "but I haven't been able to keep any of them."
"I see", Axel said, "well, I hope you find the right job for you soon."
"Thanks", Electra said.
The two sat in silence for a moment, and Electra decided to break the ice by telling Axel something.
"You know", Electra said, "I always thought you were something else."
"Really", Axel asked.
"Yes", Electra said, "when we first fought at Barbon's bar, I couldn't help but take a liking to you."
"A liking", Axel asked.
"Yes", Electra said, "you're just so good-looking and determined, and also a really good fighter."
"That's true", Axel said.
"After you guys saved your friend and defeated Mr. X, I thought about trying to make amends with you guys so we could maybe be on more friendly terms", Electra said, "but I was too nervous to because of my background as a member of the Syndicate, and I thought maybe you all would turn me away."
"We wouldn't have done it if we'd gotten to know you better", Axel said, "and since I have, I can tell you that is guaranteed."
"Really", Electra asked.
"Of course", Axel said, "after getting to know more about you on Right-Left these past couple of weeks, I can definitely say that you're an amazing person, and can especially say so because of tonight."
Axel's comments made Electra feel happy.
"We may have been enemies in the past, but that's no reason we can't be lovers in the present", Axel said, "I love you Electra, and I mean it."
"Thank you, Axel", Electra said, "no one's ever said anything like that to me before."
It was then that a waiter came over to their table with the food.
"Here you go", the waiter said.
"Thank you", Axel said.
"I was starting to get a little hungry", Electra said, "let's eat."
The two lovers ate their food, and when they were done, they agreed that the food at Flyaway Wings was pretty good, and after exchanging phone numbers, they walked out of the restaurant so they could go back to their respective homes.
"That was good", Alex said, "what did you think?"
"I loved it", Electra said, "this had to have been the best date I've ever been on."
"Glad to hear it", Axel said.
"Well, I guess I'll see you around", Electra said.
Electra began walking away, but Axel quickly caught up to her so her could ask her something.
"Hold it, Electra", Axel said, "are you free this Friday?"
"Yes", Electra said, "why?"
"I remember from your Right-Left bio that you like to dance at nightclubs", Axel said, "I know this club that's open on Friday Nights and the weekends, and I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go there with me that night."
"I'd love to", Electra said.
"Great", Axel said, "I'll give you a call around then."
"I'll be waiting", Electra said.
Electra walked away, and a smile appeared on Axel's face.
"Well how about that", Axel said, "I've got a girlfriend."
The next day, Axel was telling Blaze and Adam all about his date with Electra."
"Sounds like you two had a good night together", Adam said.
"We sure did", Axel said.
"I can't believe the girl you hit up on Right-Left turned out to be a member of the Syndicate", Blaze said, "I mean, what are the odds?"
"I don't know", Axel said, "but right now, it looks like things are going well."
"Sure sounds like it", Adam said.
"We're so glad you found someone for you to love, Axel", Blaze said.
"Thanks, you guys", Axel said, "but I might not have found her if you hadn't told me about Right-Left, Blaze."
"Glad I could help", Blaze said.
"Well, I better go", Axel said, "I've got work to do."
Axel got up from the table he and his friends were sitting at, and as he walked back towards his desk, he got an alert from his phone, and when he checked to see who it was, he saw that it was a text from Electra, asking how his day was going, so he responded with "Fine, thanks for asking." and returned to his desk feeling happy about himself.
"Yep", Axel said, "I'm one lucky guy."
