It's strange how life can change so drastically. Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun went from a barrack full of hulking Marines to a one-bedroom apartment with a pint-sized handyman as her only companion.
Tamora's not sure how it progressed to where they started keeping each other's company most evenings. Felix is a nice guy - frightfully nice at times –and always willing to help if called upon. She starts to wonder if he has any friends outside of the residents of Niceland Apartments. She realizes after a week that he's utterly dedicated to fixing any problem the residents have, from a burnt out appliance to simply hanging a picture frame.
The evening he showed up on her doorstep with a freshly baked peach pie was when Tamora found out how one resident – Mary, the fancy pink lady – thanks Felix for his help. They sat on her couch with pie seated between them and devoured it, totally disregarding supper. Felix chattered merrily about his day, an unwaveringly, chipper smile on his face.
That's how they spend most evenings: on Tamora's couch, sharing take out or food items a resident has given to Felix. It's calm, quiet, and uneventful – just how Tamora always enjoyed her nightlife. While the other Marines in her troop went out drinking and carousing, she'd stay on base working after hours. It was no surprise she advanced to sergeant so rapidly. Persistence was built into her DNA.
They never talk about whatever they are to each other. Surely, they're not a couple. Friends, maybe? Tamora knows it's a matter of time before Felix makes a move though. He is a guy, and the glowing in his cheeks when she catches him looking at her in a ridiculously dreamy way makes it blatantly obvious.
They're on her couch, as usual, one evening watching a random action movie on television when she feels his arm brush against the base of her neck. The skin to skin contact makes her sit up straight and causes an unexpected stirring in her belly. She breathes in deep and pushes it aside. Felix probably didn't mean anything by it. But when he leans in and plants a chaste kiss on her cheek as she's seeing him out, Tamora knows she needs to make a decision before leading Felix farther than she desires to go.
That night the nightmares pound on the forefront of her mind drawing Tamora bolting from her sleep. She clutches her arms, the excruciating pain still phantom all over her skin. She was, without an escape, trapped in a furnace with fire consuming her whole. It is a nightmare that has haunted her sleep many times. The agonizing pain of being burned alive is what he suffered through. The only comfort was that the blast killed him on impact, but really, that thought has never comforted her at all.
She avoids Felix for a few days. She tells him she's busy at school, but honestly, she needs time to think. Even with three days behind her, Tamora still has no clue what to do with her and Felix. She can't avoid him forever, and deep somewhere in her, she doesn't want to.
She doesn't have to inform him she's ready for his company again. Felix shows up at her door, a smile brighter than the sun shining at her, and tells her he's missed her.
"School schedule's been hell," she replies, avoiding a return sentiment. There's no way she'd even admit to herself that she's missed the chipper handyman.
"I'm here to rescue you for a little while, ma'am." Felix removes his cap, placing it against his heart. He extends his free hand to her. "Will you take a walk around the lake with me, Miss Calhoun?"
The past three days of piling over the decision to continue in the direction they are going in is signified by the hand held out for her to accept. Felix is there. He's real. He's alive.
Felix is a good guy who seems to care about her. For someone to be there is a comforting thought, but not a reliable one and she hesitates at that.
Staring at his outstretched hand and waiting expression, Tamora blast it all to hell and places her hand in his. It's large and slightly calloused, but warm and cozy and Tamora finds herself enjoying the way it curls around hers.
She closes the front door as Felix gently pulls her along. The sun has nearly set as stars begin to prick the rapidly inking sky. The air is cool on Tamora's bare arms. She's lived through freezing nights in the desert, so this is nothing she can't handle. They stroll side by side, shoulder bumping every once and a while.
They're halfway around the lake when Tamora notices how quiet Felix is. He's always chatty, especially if they hadn't seen each other for a day or so. Tonight, he's uncharacteristically reserved and she wonders what the gist is.
"You're quiet tonight, Fix-it." He glances at her. "What gives?"
"Oh," Felix sighs, averting his eyes to the sidewalk. Even in the dim light of the walkway lamps, she can tell his cheeks are glowing. "I just wanna enjoy being with you after so many days of not seeing you."
Tamora cocks a quizzical eyebrow at the sweet sentiment. "It was three days, Felix. Not three years."
"I know," he replies, a bit flustered. Felix halts their trek around the lake. He peers down at their joined hands for a moment, his thumb rubbing methodically over her knuckle. His palm has grown increasingly damp over the past minute. "I just want this to be perfect."
Tamora snorts rather unladylike and inappropriate for the budding romantic moment. "If you want perfect then you definitely have the wrong woman."
Felix chuckles nervously. "I mean, perfect as in-"
"I know what you mean, Fix-It." Tamora's pretty sure she can guess where this is going and doesn't need Felix's ramblings to deter from his intentions.
Felix's cheeks are radiating by now as he leans in slowly, gaze focused on her slightly parted lips. But at the last second, he veers off to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"That's not what you brought me out here for, is it?" It's more of a statement than a question, because Tamora knows the answer.
Felix hasn't pulled back, their noses nearly touching they're so close. "No, ma'am," he responds, and Tamora has never heard his voice thick and husky before. It sends an unexpected shiver down her spine.
Felix doesn't hesitate again. He closes the gap, tentatively pressing his lips to hers. The first thing she takes in is that his lips are soft and a bit chilled from the cool night air. She wonders if he has the gumption to go any farther than just a chaste kiss. But after a beat of light exploring, Felix tilts his head, deepening his hold on their connection.
That's when Tamora decides her little handyman is a pretty good kisser. She cups his round cheeks with both hands as he slides his palms up her bare arms to rest against her throat. They finally pull away – though barely – to breathe, huffing warm breath in each other's flushed faces.
"Tammy. Call me Tammy." With a sigh, Tamora breaks down one of many barriers to let Felix in. "Only a few people I ever let call me that."
"Tammy," Felix echoes reverently, accompanied by the most ridiculously dreamy expression.
Tamora has grown to appreciate the way he looks at her. Her lips curl into a satisfied smile as she leans in to meet him again. Maybe she'll give Fix-It a chance.