"Hurry up, slowpoke!" Pauline threw a smile over her shoulder.
"S-sorry," Felix accepted her outstretched hand. "Are you sure you don't want to go somewhere nice for some dinner…or dancing?"
"Don't be silly!" the brunette giggled. "I do those things all the time. This will be much more fun!"
The handyman wished he could share his date's enthusiasm. He gulped when they stepped into the clearing around Niceland's one and only lake. Ducks dotted the bright blue water, a group of them wading towards the nearest shore when Pauline approached with a bag of feed.
She tossed a few kernels before realizing the handyman was no longer by her side. Her long wavy locks cascaded over her shoulder as she turned her head. Felix stood a couple of yards back, giving her a little wave.
"Junior," she crooned. "What are you doing back there?"
"Just…taking in the view," he swallowed.
With a wily smile, she adjusted the way she knelt on the grass. With a flick of her hair, she turned back with a more sultry look.
"Is it nice?" she asked. The handyman let out a nervous chuckle, shying away from her gaze.
"Yes…" he said, his cheeks turning a perfect shade of pink.
"Why don't you come over here then? Get yourself a closer look."
Felix swallowed, legs feeling like jelly as he forced himself towards the small flock gathering near his lady. Sitting on his knees, he couldn't help reaching for the bell of his hammer, his thumb twitching over its gilded surface.
Pauline placed some kernels in his free hand and lowered it towards the grass. Felix bristled a bit when a duck came to peck, but the way Pauline smiled put him at ease. And soon, he was smiling too.
Once his hand was emptied, Pauline tipped the satchel of kernels to refill it. A small gasp escaped her when the lip of the bag fell from her fingers, the entirety of its contents emptying in their laps.
All at once the ducks descended upon them, wings flapping and beaks pecking as they scrambled for their food. The pair yelped, standing up. Pauline managed to step away from the chaos, but for whatever reason, a few continued to pursue Felix as he backed out.
"No! Nnno!" he shouted, using his hat to fend them off. When they weren't properly deterred, all the handyman could think to do was run.
Sprinting into the treeline, he ran, and ran, up until he was leaning against the brick of the apartment building gasping for air.
"Felix!" he looked up to see Pauline emerge from the woods, carrying her heels as she rushed over.
"You left me!" she gave the handyman a little shove. "You jerk!"
The way she laughed as she caught her breath told him she wasn't actually angry, still, Felix was remorseful.
"I-I'm sorry!" he placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her up and down. He plucked some feathers from her hair. "Are you alright?"
"Yes!" Pauline chuckled, dropping her shoes to wrap her arms around his neck. "Are you?"
"I think my life flashed before my eyes," he only half joked.
"Aww, my poor little Duckie…" she peppered his face with kisses. Oh lands, a new nickname.
"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?" The handyman sighed.
"Nope," Pauline smiled, pressing her red lips to his.