Chapter Text
Jane Bennet didn't quite know what to make of this little man. He reminded her a bit of her cousin Collins, though not nearly as hairy. His blue cap and workman's uniform also set him apart from her friendly but not terribly practically gifted relative. His demeanor, however, was charming.
"Good evening, ma'am," he said, the fainted hint of a drawl softening his voice with the sounds of honey and tea.
"Oh, hi, it's so nice to see you!" Jane said, and it was. He was smiling at her in such a friendly way, and his uniform was so nice and tidy and well tailored - it was very good to see someone paying attention to their attire that way. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure," she continued.
"My name is Fi...Felix, ma'am. I'm just dropping by to relay my wife's thanks for the assist last Friday."
Jane searched her memory. Ah, yes, Friday was when Lydia wanted Jane and Lizzie to meet her knew crush, who was apparently a big 80s nostalgia guy. They met in an arcade, and surprisingly had a lot of fun. No whack-a-mole this time. Though there had been some awkwardness when Jane had stepped in to allow a young girl, she thought the name was Moppet? play a rather violent looking science fictiony game. Two older boys were insisting that they had the game all night, but Jane pointed to the sign which said clearly, "No reservations." It had been awkward, but Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right. The girl was pleased, and Jane played a round of the game with her. It turned out to be a bit more fun than she'd thought, since the enemies were all robotic insects, and Jane was always up for the destruction of electronic nuisances.
Lydia had been quite jealous of her high score.
"Your wife?"
"Yes, she's in the military, and she appreciates a fellow woman with a sense of justice."
"Well, Mr. Felix, I am very glad to have been of assistance." She glanced back at the tray of cinnamon cookies she'd just made. "Would you like to step in for some tea?"
"No, thank you, ma'am. It's most kind of you, but I must go. It's cream soda night at Tapper's, and that only happens once a year."
"That's too bad. Another time, then. And your wife is welcome as well, of course."
"Have a wonderful evening, ma'am!"
As Jane watched the bobbing blue hat of Felix pass down the street (he certainly did have quite a...bouncy gait), Bing came up behind her with a puzzled look on his face.
"What is it, babe?" she asked.
"Nothing," he said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "It's just...that guy looks funnily familiar. Must have been all that time Darcy and I spent on that 80s game with the hammer and apartment building. Doing the same thing that often sometimes plays tricks with my memory."
"I'm sure you'll remember it soon," Jane assured him, giving him a side-armed hug as she walked back to the kitchen to put her cookies away.
"Yeah, I'm sure you're right. You usually are."