Captain Gargle

Chapter 7

For days, Michael had been working up the courage to ask Belle out. Between battling foul-smelling villains and hiding his identity as Captain Gargle, he'd been avoiding the very real feelings he had for his sharp-witted colleague. But after their recent close calls—both with villains and her growing curiosity about Captain Gargle—he decided that if he didn't act soon, he might miss his chance.

It was late in the afternoon at The Daily Tribune. The newsroom had quieted down for once, and Belle was sitting at her desk, focused on her notes from a recent investigation. Michael, who had been pretending to write an article, glanced over at her and swallowed hard. His heart raced, and for a moment, he considered backing out.

Come on, Michael, he thought. You've faced alien invaders and giant swarms of flies. You can handle this.

He stood up, taking a deep breath as he crossed the room. Belle didn't notice him at first, engrossed in her work, but as he stopped by her desk, she glanced up, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, Michael," she said, her voice light but curious. "Need something?"

Michael rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Uh, yeah, actually. I was wondering if, you know, you'd like to grab dinner with me tonight?"

Belle blinked in surprise. For a second, her usual cool expression faltered, replaced by a flicker of amusement and something else—interest. "Dinner? Are you asking me on a date, Halloway?"

Michael's face flushed. "I mean, if you're interested, yeah. I thought we could, uh, take a break from chasing stories for once."

Belle's lips curved into a smirk, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You know, I didn't think you had it in you." She paused, studying him for a moment before adding, "But yeah, I'd like that. Dinner sounds nice."

Michael's heart soared. He managed a smile, despite the nerves jangling in his chest. "Great! I'll, uh, pick you up around seven?"

"Seven it is," Belle said, turning back to her notes, though Michael caught the small smile she tried to hide.

As he walked back to his desk, Michael felt a mix of excitement and dread. He had finally asked her out, but now came the hard part—juggling a date with Belle while keeping his superhero duties under wraps. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was bound to go wrong.

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By the time seven o'clock rolled around, Michael found himself standing outside Belle's apartment building, his palms sweating despite the cool evening breeze. He had dressed a little nicer than usual—nothing too flashy, but enough to show he was putting in an effort.

Belle appeared at the door, looking effortlessly stylish in a simple black dress and a jacket, her dark curls framing her face. She smiled as she approached, a playful glint in her eyes. "You clean up well, Halloway."

Michael grinned, his nerves easing slightly. "Thanks. You look amazing."

"Flattery will get you everywhere," she teased, linking her arm with his as they walked down the street toward the restaurant.

They ended up at a cozy little bistro that Michael had picked out—a place that wasn't too fancy but still had a warm, intimate vibe. The conversation flowed easily as they sat down, talking about everything from their latest work assignments to their favorite films. Michael found himself relaxing more than he had expected, enjoying Belle's company in a way that wasn't tied to chasing stories or investigating strange occurrences.

For a while, it felt normal. Just a simple night out. But deep down, Michael knew it wouldn't last.

As they were finishing their appetizers, Michael's phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced down at the screen, his stomach dropping when he saw the message from Commander Floss.