*David's POV*

watch?v=fnLsQdaR9kI

– Battle Hymn of the Republic –

"Are you twisting your spanner to the beat?"

I looked at Slippy under the chassis. "What if I am?"

He shrugged. "Just wondering. It's not bad or anything."

"Oh. Are you jealous that I have tempo?" I smirked inwardly but didn't show it on my face.

"No! I mean—but—ugggghh!" he shut his mouth and looked intensely at the oil pan he was reinstalling.

I laughed my head off. "I love messing with you, Slip."

He sighed as he worked. "I'll never have tempo."

"Hey-hey! Just cause you can't keep a beat doesn't mean you're not the best mechanic on Corneria."

He stopped twisting his driver and looked at me smiling slightly. "Thanks Dave."

Dave. Everyone on the team except for Fara and Krystal called me that. "I'm done here," I said as I scooted out from under my truck.

"Me too, just a couple more turns and that'll be it!"

Slip and I were finally finished modifying my F-250 with a static-charge battery. The Cornerian emissions laws had banned gas-emission vehicles long ago. The only mechanical particulate in the air here was oil, a necessary liquid. Though here, it wasn't petrol-based, it was organic.

Slip finally rolled out from under the truck. "Start 'er up!"

I smiled like a lunatic and hit the lift switch, lowering the massive transportation device to the bay floor, then climbed into the cabin while Slip shut down the lift diffuser. "Shut it down next time!" He yelled.

"Sorry!" I said. "Just excited!"

"I know," He said chuckling, "You're fine bro."

I kept my cheesy grin on my face and gave him a thumbs-up, then pushed the start button. The engine rumbled to life, sounding just like the beautiful diesel it was. I looked at our mechanic, confused. Slip had a confident smirk on his face. "I might have added a sound and vibration chamber to recreate the start-up shake and pulsing beat it had before." I literally beamed. "DUDE YOU ARE SO AWESOME!" I screamed from the cabin.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." He waved nonchalantly, closing his eyes regally. I laughed again. "Wow! Thanks Slip!"

"Not a problem bro."

*Fara's POV*

I entered the vehicle bay just as David was dismounting from his truck. Under the hood I saw a faint blue glow slowly dimming.

"Hey Fara!" he said jovially, waving.

"Hi David," I said, smiling weakly. After our first date a couple weeks ago, we didn't really talk about it again. I wanted to, but I didn't want to pry due to his sensitive past. I cleared my throat. "Um, General Pepper wanted to see you."

He snapped his head up from the sink where he was washing his hands. "Oh! Uh, did he say why?"

I nodded. "He wanted to know if you can share some of your history with us."

He looked thoughtful for a second. "O…k…," he shrugged, "yeah. I'll go see him. Thanks!"

"You're welcome," I said softly. My heart ached. I wanted to get him alone, that was why I took the task from Fox to let him know about Pepper. My fate be cursed that he wasn't. I turned to go, but stopped, looking back. "Um, what was that song playing just now?"

"Oh. That was called 'Battle Hymn of the Republic'. It's one of the first patriotic songs of my nation. It's about how we rely on God to see us through our conflicts and use the freedom He's given us to help others."

"That's…nice. Can I…hear more of your music?" Please say yes. Please say yes.

He grinned, that white toothed smile almost knocking me off my feet. "Sure! Just lemme know when." He was so clueless. It was kind of cute.

I looked down thoughtfully, then back up to him. "Can we meet at the bench in the garden after you see General Pepper?"

He smiled. "Sure thing."

I returned the smile and headed to the common area. As soon as I was out of sight I nearly collapsed in the hallway. That was so…intense…but why? I'm not falling for him! …Right?

*David's POV*

"Dude did you not just see that?" Slippy nearly yelled a minute after she left.

"What?" I asked, dumbfounded.

He got right up to me and pulled my arm down so I was face-to-face with him. "SHE JUST ASKED YOU OUT, DUDE!"

I stood back up and thought about it. Well, She did seem nervous. Not sure why she'd be nervous to – realization dawned on me – Oh. OH. OHHH. My eyes widened each time the reality hit me.

"She likes me?" I asked my spanner-turning partner.

"Well, duh!" He held his webbed hands out with a dumbfounded look on his face.

I rubbed my chin, the shock wearing off. "Hm. Interesting. Well, gotta clean up and go see the General."

"Seeya!" Slippy waved as he started putting his tools away. As I left I heard him mumble, "Interesting. All he says is 'interesting.'"

I really did like Fara. But compartmentalizing information and dwelling on it later was how I coped with stressful – or otherwise mind-consuming (like romance) – situations. And I decided to put her apparent feelings for me away, to revisit them when I wasn't busy.

I arrived at the CDF Headquarters a couple hours later, after I finished cleaning myself up. I got out of the cab and paid the driver with a decent tip. Slip said he'd have to charge the truck battery for at least a day before it would constantly recharge itself, so I'd be without my baby for a day or so. Eh. Not bad.

As I walked up to the door, a new security guard I hadn't met before, a male beagle, stopped me. "Sir, I'm going to have to see some ID." He said with his left paw in a "stop" gesture. I looked at him incredulously. "Really?" I asked him. He just stared under his helmet visor. "Really?" I said again, slightly exasperated. I was the ONLY one of my species – not only on the planet, but in the entire Lylat System. I had an ID number for legal purposes, but all my credentials such as photo ID and others were in the Cornerian Legal Database.

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to provide ID or step away," he said as he put his free paw on the paw-guard of his pulse rifle. Seriously? I looked at the other one for help, but it seems I was out of luck, as it was one of the few racist xenophobes on the planet. Cpl Wallen Fertal, a ferret, stood there smirking as I got my treatment.

"Ok, ok, I'm stepping away," I said, my hands where he could see them. The beagle relaxed and returned to his post as I backed up. I walked away and brought Pepper up on my Comm. "David," he answered. "General sir, there's a guard at the front who won't let me in, and his partner is…prejudice."

I heard a sigh. "I'll be right down." -click-

A few minutes later, as I sat on the steps leading from the main sidewalk I heard two things: First, the door opening; second, a very loud and very upset blood hound.

I stood and turned around, and he was berating Cpl Fertal. Said ferret was cowering before the intimidating visage of the second most powerful Cornerian in the system as his partner looked at him, to the general, then to me. I saw his muzzle drop open. I could imagine his eyes bulging from their sockets at that point, and smiled satisfactorily.

After Pepper finished his rant, he turned around yelled something to the non-racist guard, then went back inside. The beagle ran over to me and saluted, apologized profusely and politely escorted me inside. As I passed the ferret, I saw him stare at me from my peripheral, no doubt expecting a victorious smirk. I simply ignored him.

The beagle's name was LCpl John Greysmor, and apparently his counterpart had informed him that there was a monkey who had altered his genes and shaved his fur off. I shook my head. Wow. The stories people – I mean Cornerians – make up. I assured him there were no hard feelings and saluted him before departing.

I arrived at the General's office without further incident and knocked, standing at Parade Rest. "Enter," I heard the gravelly voice call. I did as instructed, saluted and stood at the Position of Attention. "Sergeant Warring reporting as ordered, Sir!"

"As you were." He gestured to one of the seats in front of his desk and I sat. "Have you been informed of my request, David?"

I nodded. "Yes sir. The history of my species."

"Would you be willing to do a seminar?"

I was surprised, but pleased. "Yes sir. When?"

He sighed. "You're just like Fox. So formal. Just…" he waved his paw and leaned back in his chair, "lose the formalities when we're alone. Just Pepper or 'hey you' is fine, at least in private."

I chuckled and relaxed. "Ok, 'Hey you.'"

He cut his eyes at me, then smiled, appreciating my joke. "Can you do it today?"

I was about to say yes, when I remembered Fara. "Can…can I do it later today? Around 5?" It was around 1:30 at the time.

Pepper rubbed his jowls thoughtfully and nodded. "They…" he gestured, "the scientists and professors hoped for an…immediate audience, but I suppose letting them and you get prepared is best. Can you do 4:30?"

I nodded. "Yes, sir. I mean, Pepper."

"Well then. I'll see you here just before 4:30" He extended his paw and stood.

I stood and shook it gratefully. "See you then."

*Fara's POV*

"Would you stop?!" Miyu practically yelled. "I'm sorry," I said, stopping my trembling hindpaws from tapping the floor. "What if he doesn't come? What if Pepper sends him on a mission? Wh-"

"Oh Come On!" She said, throwing her paws up in the air. "He's not even your boyfriend!" An exasperated meow followed.

"Hey Dave!" I heard Fox say from the foyer. Miyu and I were in the common area, sitting on the couch as we waited for him. It was more of me waiting for him, and Miyu providing moral support. I stood up, a little too quickly in fact and stumbled a bit. Miyu caught my arm before I could fall. "Falling for him already, are we?" she said with a smirk.

I cut my eyes at her and sighed. "It's not like that."

"Suuuure it isn't" she replied with an overdramatic roll of her eyes.

At that moment, David walked in with Fox. They were bantering about a seminar Pepper wanted him to do at 4:30. My heart sunk. It was already 2:15, and he'd have to no doubt get ready, and he'd have no time to show his music to me. The two men were so engrossed in conversation neither of them saw us by the couch. I turned to sit down again, forlorn as I realized I wouldn't be able to go on another da-"Hey, Fara."

I looked up, shocked as David was standing behind me. He looked at me in compassion as he leaned on the back of the couch. "What's wrong?" he asked in a gentle voice.

"Oh," I sniffed, wiping my eyes. I hadn't even realized they were getting misty. "N-nothing's wrong. I just had something in my eye."

His features didn't change as he nodded. That was his response to most things. That silent nod, exuding the quiet strength he so easily concealed. "If you need some time, we can do the mu-"

"NO!" I said a little too loudly. "I-I mean, no, It's fine. I'm ready." I attempted a half-hearted smile, knowing that I'd be taking him away from his time preparing the seminar.

David was taken back a little by my outburst and raised his eyebrows. "O…k…" he looked at Miyu who was still sitting. She suddenly found the carpet, then the ceiling very interesting and began whistling a tune. David looked back at me and paused for a second before smiling softly. "Well, I'm ready when you are."

*David's POV*

After the little fiasco in the common area, Fara and I headed to the bench where we had our first date. She seemed really flustered the whole way there and in the common area as well. "Um," I began, "Fara?" She looked at me sheepishly, "Yeah?"

"Um," I took a breath as we walked along the stone path, "nevermind." I had wanted to ask her outright if she was attracted to me, but I figured it would probably hurt more than help.

"No." She got in front of me and stopped, placing her hands on my arms. "We've both got things on our minds. I'll go first." She breathed in deeply and let it out. "Do you…" she steeled herself, "Do you want to have this date?" I was taken back. Why would she ask that? She looked at the ground before continuing. "It's just…it's been a few weeks since our first one, and I thought maybe you were still hurting, I just didn't want to seem pushy…" She looked back up at me with pleading eyes.

To be honest, the reason I didn't speak of it to her afterwards is because I didn't want to come off as pushy or overbearing myself. I was taught by my parents that a woman's honor is precious and should always be protected. I smiled, relaxing, and I shook my head. "No," I said with a soft chuckle, "you're not pushy. And yes," I lowered my head slightly to drive my point, "I want to have this date."

She let out all the air in the garden at that moment. "Whew. Ok. Your turn."

I gestured to the bench where we first sat and considered saying never mind, but she did just pour out what was on her heart. It would be rude not to return the gesture. After we sat I breathed in deeply, just like her before speaking. "Do you…" I smirked as I copied how she asked her question. I was rewarded with a smack on my shoulder. "That's not funny! I was worried!" she yelped. I started guffawing uncontrollably.

"Ok, ok ok." I got myself under control and calmed down, wiping a tear from my eye. "My question is," I looked her directly in the eyes. "Are you attracted to me?"

*Fara's POV*

As he asked the question, my heart dropped in my stomach. I didn't think he'd be so forward so soon. I looked at the ground quickly, my face heating up like an oven. "I um…" I paused, breathing deeply. I was panicking. What if he said 'that's nice' or outright told me he wasn't interested in return? No, Fara, he probably was, he did say you reminded him of Katina. What do I do, what do I do?

I felt a hand slowly place itself on my left shoulder, breaking me out of my anxious thoughts. Another lightly grasped my chin. I let him turn my head to my left so I was facing him, and as I lifted my eyes I was met with a face that was so strong, so resolute. How did he have such calm if he did feel the same way I did? "Fara, I'm going to lay it all out. I like you. A lot. That hasn't changed since the first time I told you. The fact that you don't exude any promiscuity or sexuality is so attractive to me. I…" he stopped, his eyes getting misty. "I was finally able to let go of my past after our first date. And now, I don't see Katina anymore. I just see you." He let go of my chin and rested his left hand on my right. "I…" he took in a breath. "I didn't tell you this last time we were out here, but I have had feelings for you since the first moment I saw you. I just didn't know how to really convey-mff."

I shut him up by lunging forward and closing his mouth with mine. I was so happy, tears were streaming down my face as we kissed. He was being so polite, so gentle even in that intimate moment. I brushed his lips with my tongue, and he parted them, allowing our appendages to wrestle in blissful combat. He moved his arm from my shoulder to my neck and lifted his left hand to my side. On my part, I outright embraced him as we molded together, our hips now touching.

Once we released the kiss, our foreheads rested against one another's. He smiled and said, "Some kinda music, huh?" I giggled. "Yeah," I said softly. "Some kinda music." Speaking of which, I had meant to ask him earlier. "David, can you…can you tell me more about this God that your nation worshipped?" He retracted slowly, sitting up straight and as he looked at me, his face changed. He was still smiling, but he looked different. I've seen him happy, joyous even. But this was on a whole different level. He almost glowed. There was a twinkle in his eye as he pulled a small book from his cargo pocket. He opened it and started reading out loud, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…"