A/N: I've now seen Wreck-it Ralph in theatres six times, planning to see it again tonight! Eight times will be my in-theatres movie-seeing record!

Now for the important announcement: A thousand apologies for making you all wait for this chapter. My writer's block spell is gone, though. YAY.

Also, I need help. I have a WIR-AU idea, but I don't know whether to call it The Nameless Planet, The Planet Without a Name or The World with No Name. If you haven't caught on yet, it's about the world where Hero's Duty takes place. If you have a favorite, please either leave it in a review or answer the poll on my profile. Thanks :D

Escape Into My Heart

Chapter 5: Don't Call Me Ma'am

They both found the situation at hand very familiar.

Calhoun was driving the escape pod, Felix standing by. Though they'd ended up talking as if neither remembered the incident, in reality, neither could ignore the memory of when the sergeant rather hastily kicked Felix out on the candy-coated-curb after one small 'complement.' Both secretly wanted to make amends, but were uncertain of exactly how, Felix still in the dark about what he'd done wrong in the first place. On top of that, he was wary of even mentioning the words "Dynamite Gal" while still in the air, and the last thing he wanted to do was upset her again, especially not on what seemed to be a (rather unofficial) date.

"Let me get this straight," Calhoun said, "in your game, you fix an apartment complex that Ralph wrecks because you all built it on his land?"

"Well…" Felix's face grew red. He wasn't embarrassed about the simplicity of his game, no sir, but he felt a bit silly talking about his old fashioned plot with someone that came from a game with such detailed programming. "Of course it doesn't sound as dangerous and exciting as your game, ma'am, especially when you say it like that…"

"Didn't mean anything by it, soldier." Calhoun reassured him. "I think it's interesting. It sounds heck of a lot more fun than killing Cybugs all day." Interesting, she thought. Haven't thought about fun in a while. I'll have to check it out sometime."

Felix perked up, gaining confidence by the complement, her smile giving him the hint that she'd like to be invited. "I'd be honored, ma'am, if you came to visit my humble home. And I assure you, in my day, our graphics were top of the line. Cream of the crop, even."

Calhoun shook her head at his choice of words, a smile still playing at her lips. "You really are old fashioned."

A small moment of silence passed between them as they soared through the skies of Hero's Duty. Calhoun was still thinking about apologizing, wanting to get it over with while they were completely alone, she didn't want any of her soldiers overhearing. That was just black mail waiting to happen.

"Ma'am?" Felix began, unaware of her intensions to speak. "You don't mind it that my game is, well, older than most, do you? I mean, our backgrounds don't match up at all, but…" he paused, most likely to get her eye contact, which he did. "That's what I like about us."

Calhoun had no immediate response but to look away and hide her smile behind her long blond bangs. Her words came naturally, without much thought. "Honestly, I like it too."

They'd finally reached their destination, so Calhoun finally decided to apologize for her past actions. Or at least try. She stopped Felix from opening the hatch after she'd landed the aircraft in its proper place.

"Look, Fix-it, about throwing you out yesterday…" she sighed, seeing Brad's face again in her mind's eye. She knew she wanted to move on, she knew it every time she was with Felix. She had to tell him. "I have a back story, a pretty…a pretty painful one."

Before she could go any further with the confession, she felt Felix's hand over one of hers. She hadn't even realized how tightly she was gripping the steering consol. She immediately let go and felt Felix pull it towards him to envelope it in both his hands.

"I know about your back story. Not a lot, but I know enough. You don't have to tell me anything if you're not ready."

His reassuring gaze made Calhoun's heart flutter. She didn't even care how stupid it sounded, this man had a serious effect on her and it was useless to try and hide from it.

"And you're willing to wait? For me to be ready to tell you?" She asked, almost disbelieving of his sincerity.

"Miss Calhoun, I'll wait as long as you need me to." He replied, secretly wanting to use her first name, but not wanting to over step his bounds.

Just then, a voice came on from the cellular device on her belt, interrupting their moment.

"Sarge, you need any assistance up there?" said one of her subordinates. She picked up the communicator and pressed a flashing button before talking.

"I've got everything under control, private." She said, winking at Felix, who honeyglows were already about as red as they could get. She then pressed another button and continued talking. "Patrol of the tower's on me tonight, ladies. If I see you up here, I'll make you respawn before you even realize you were dead in the first place. Got it?"

She returned the communicator to her belt without waiting for an answer and opened the hatch.

"So, I get the feeling that you don't want the troops to know I'm here with you." Felix said in a joking tone of voice as he hopped out of the escape pod and into the tower.

"Well, less explaining to do." She replied off handedly. One glance at Felix after disembarking the escape pod and she knew that he hadn't heard her. His eyes were glued to all the Cybug eggs in the room, then to the medal of hero's floating in midair some odd feet away.

"Jiminy…" He said under his breath. "I'm surprised Ralph got away with one Cybug! He could've let a whole swarm through!"

"Which he did, eventually." Calhoun replied flatly.

Felix looked up at her, a light concern in his eyes. "You're not still mad at him, are you?"

Calhoun sighed, looking down at Felix. She wasn't still mad at him, how could she be after his death-defying acts heroism he'd pulled at Diet Cola Mountain? But that didn't mean she didn't still have a bone to pick with him. "He did sneak into my game and single handedly threaten to destroy the entire arcade with his reckless behavior."

"But he did fix it." Felix replied, emphasizing the words 'fix it' by putting his hands on his hips, one hand on the golden hammer hanging from his tool belt. "Single handedly, might I add."

She raised an eyebrow at the playful look in his eyes. "Hmph. I thought that was your job, fun size."

"Well, Ralph told Vanellope to stay with me. So I darn right had to protect her." Such language, Felix thought, knowing full well that Calhoun was used to much worse.

Calhoun knelt down to his height. "And, when the pip-squeak left?"

Felix didn't even have to think about his answer. "I know you of all people would rather do the protecting then receive it, but I had to stay with you. I had to fight for you."

"We could've died." Calhoun said. She shook her head. "I should have told you to run."

"Not to be disrespectful, ma'am, but I would have ignored you're order."

Calhoun finally grabbed him by his collar and pulled him to her until his face was just inches from hers. "Don't call me ma'am." She whispered fiercely.

He took her face in his hands. "Tammy…"

Both of their hearts were racing when they kissed. It was deeper than any other they'd ever had, effectively blinding them from everything else around them, making it easy for the soldier in the hallway across from them to gawk at the scene.

Not for too long, however.

Calhoun pulled out her gun and aimed, all the while still firmly holding Felix's small body against hers, keeping her lips locked with his, eyes still closed. The soldier retreated immediately, despite the fact that he had unlimited lives.

Felix broke the kiss, wondering why she'd pulled out her gun. He looked to the hallway entrance, hearing an echo of someone's voice saying "The boys are not going to believe this."

"Well," Calhoun said, also looking towards the hallway. "I guess I have some explaining to do after all." She looked back at Felix, absolutely loving the red hue to his cheeks coupled with the blissful smile on his face.

They would have found out anyway with how fast we seem to be going.

Praise, flame, or ignore the review box to your heart's content. Thanks for reading and please, if you have time, I'd love it if you could answer the poll on my profile. Much obliged fellow WIR fans