#felix: not unless you did something lame stupid or uncool

[splinteredsweets]

this is part 1 of a 5 part hammertastic (sorta) fic i'm working on :) this first part is showcasing the time felix gifted his medal to turbo :D it's about 2k or so words hope you like it yay <3

it's pretty much been done for like over a month now , i still make edits and add/change lines here and there all the time so the final will be ever-so-slightly different in places . ok enough stalling hope this is ok :3

read under the cut !

To Have Loved and Lost (Part 1/5)

“Do we have the guest list finalised yet-”

“Allow me to help you with the cake this time, Mary-”

“Who are we getting on bar duty this year-”

Felix was listening to the other Nicelanders joyfully making preparations for the upcoming new year and giving feedback when asked for input. They were all looking forward to celebrating the milestone of half a decade together, as well as a good excuse to hold a big get-together with friends. The top floor of the Niceland penthouse made a great space for special events, and every resident loved planning them. They frequently hosted parties with the other games in the arcade, and this was going to be their greatest one yet. They were going to have bubble machines and a chocolate fountain! Or at least that's what it sounded like right now, according to discussion. Felix was a little worried that suds from popped bubbles might end up mixed in the chocolate, but just as he was thinking about voicing his own concerns, someone else already expressed the shared sentiment and the idea was quickly disregarded. Everyone was anxious to make this a great party, and ideas were being thrown around left and right in the excitement of coming up with grander ideas.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when Deanna called for his attention. “Felix? There’s a visitor waiting for you outside in the hallway.”

Felix gave her a grateful nod in response. “Why, thank you, Deanna! I wonder who it could be at this hour?” he thought the last part aloud mostly to himself. Fix-It Felix Jr was no stranger to receiving guests from time to time, but it wasn't often someone would drop by completely unannounced, much less so soon after the arcade had finished closing for the day.

Stepping outside into the hall to greet his guest, Felix was slightly surprised to be met with his next-cabinet neighbour. Although in all honesty, he really should have expected Turbo would be the one at his door; he'd been inviting himself over to the penthouse a lot more frequently as of late since he and Felix had been spending more time together outside of their usual meet-up at Tapper’s. It was more often now that they’d instead share casual conversation over a slice of pie or go for the rare kart ride in one of their respective games.

He could immediately tell something was wrong; Turbo’s usually bright yellow eyes were narrowed in irritation and where there should be a complementary golden smile was instead a twisted scowl.

“Jiminy jaminy, Turbo, are you okay?”

“Do I look okay??”

Felix chuckled nervously. “R-right, silly question aha… um… what brings you here, neighbour?”

An annoyed hiss of frustration garbled in Turbo’s throat. “I get one quarter alert all day, and in the only game I get, I lose?!” he snarled.

Ohh, phew, that's what this was about. Felix had gotten kinda worried there for a second that he’d done something to invoke his ire, the way Turbo had been glaring. He just needed a good friend to vent his frustrations to, and Felix had filled that role for almost the entire time they'd known each other. Now that he knew what the problem was, he could listen to his friend and provide support the best he could.

“Can't believe I only got one game all day…” Turbo repeated, muttering under his breath as he started pacing back and forth, tracking dirt from his shoes all over the floor.

“Hey now, don't be so hard on yourself! Today was a slow day for all of us, it's nothing to worry yourself to death over.” Felix soothed.

“Easy for you to say! I’m the most popular game there is in the arcade! I should be getting more than just one play…”

With flashier and newer games coming out, the veterans of the arcade had been seeing a little less business than they were used to. Felix personally didn't mind all too much; his own game had never been the biggest but they got decent enough attention as it was. But Turbo was someone used to the spotlight - he’d never let anyone forget it - and as Turbo Time slipped in attention, his good mood went with it. His grumblings had become more frequent, and it was truthfully getting a little tiresome for Felix to constantly have the same conversations as he’d attempt to lift the racer’s spirits. But he'd keep trying anyway, as Turbo was a good friend he cared for.

“I'm sure you'll get a lot more quarters tomorrow; the players still love you, just as they always have.”

“...let alone a loss.” Turbo continued, ignoring Felix’s attempts at placating him as he kept up his agitated pacing.

“You don't have to win all the time, you know…”

Turbo laughed. “Hahaha, oh don't try making such jokes, really, you're no good with them, aha. 'Don't have to win?!’ Of COURSE I have to win! I’m the greatest racer there is!” he declared, voice cracking as he got louder with his hands waving about wildly. “Tell me something - does it feel good when you lose, Fix-It Felix Jr? When you get rewarded with nothing but bricks to the head all day due to a rookie player’s mistakes?”

“Well, no, but I don't need a reward at the end of the day.”

“Oh, sure, and that medal you have so carelessly dangling all willy-nilly around your neck means nothing, I'm positive.”

Felix blinked in surprise before reaching a hand up to his chest to find that, indeed, a medal was there, now pinched between his fingers. He had honestly completely forgotten that he was still wearing it from earlier, having had no time to even spare it another thought before getting immediately caught up in party-planning business with the other Nicelanders as soon as the arcade had closed.

“I mean… sure, it is nice to have a medal, but it isn't all there is to it. It-”

“Yeah, that isn't all there is to it, is there?” Turbo interrupted, pointing an accusatory finger his way. “No, you also get pies, and-and parties, and everyone loves you, no matter what! You still get everything, while I-” his ranting slammed the brakes, as did his pacing. His eyes darted all around the hallway and his hands were put up in an aggressive manner, as if expecting something to jump out and attack him.

Warily, Turbo turned hesitant eyes to Felix’s own. His sudden nervousness felt almost out of character for the proud racer, his usual confidence appearing to have abandoned him to seek refuge in the friend who’d always boost him back up to his feet.

The words seemed stuck in Turbo’s throat, as if he were fighting with himself to get them out. Or with keeping them in.

Felix approached cautiously, slowly placing a patient hand on Turbo’s shoulder. He tensed momentarily before relaxing under the handyman’s touch.

“Felix…” Turbo finally continued, finding his voice after several moments. “I have to win,” he insisted. “Without my trophies, I’m…” he stopped again, looking briefly around once more with a reluctant grimace before returning his gaze to Felix’s, who nodded in silent reaffirmation.

“…I’m nothing.” he whispered, almost too quiet to hear.

The confession struck Felix hard like a brick to the head. Never before had Turbo sounded so lost. His lowered guard was something Felix was rarely privy to - in fact, Felix was fairly sure he was the only person Turbo had ever let his guard down around, never mind by this much. The fact he trusted Felix enough to express his vulnerabilities with him like this greatly touched his code.

Felix struggled to find the right words to say. For as much experience as he'd had in consoling his friend, he'd never quite seen this side of Turbo and thus was sort of at a loss this time. His immediate impulse was to reassure the racer that he was more than just his trophies but stopped himself, unsure that Turbo would even listen.

He fidgeted the fingers of his free hand together, running them over one another and pulling them closer to his chest where his heart would be. His fingers brushed over a familiar solid surface.

A thought like lightning struck.

Now there’s an idea!

Withdrawing both hands and putting them instead on his neck, Felix slipped his medal over his head and held it in his hands. The confused look on Turbo’s face morphed quickly into surprise as Felix reached above his helmet.

Hands flung out to meet his own and he was caught around the forearms, stopping him. “Whoa whoa whoa there, what are you doing?” Turbo questioned, brows furrowing in suspicion.

“Um… giving you my medal…?” Felix answered somewhat sheepishly.

“What…?” Something lit in Turbo’s eyes, though it was difficult for Felix to describe exactly what it was.

“Can you let my arms go, please?”

Turbo seemed to remember he was still gripping Felix’s arms and released him. Seeing this as his chance, Felix quickly draped the medal around Turbo’s neck.

For once, the racer seemed at a genuine loss for words. “I don't…” he examined the medal at his chest, fingers studying the letters engraved on the gold plating.

“For you,” Felix explained, offering a smile. “I know it's not quite the same as a trophy, but I do hope it suffices.”

That unreadable expression lingered on Turbo’s face for a few more moments, still staring down at the medal before letting out a small soft laugh. “Haha… how can it? It’s gonna look a bit out of place, considering my game isn’t called Felix Time, after all…”

“Oh no, don't think of it like that! Think of it like…” Felix tapped at his head, trying to think of a way to verbalise his thoughts. “...like a reminder that you always have my friendship,” He looked back at Turbo, another smile already finding its way onto his face once more. “That even if you lose a race, our friendship is something you can never lose.”

Turbo looked a bit more than stricken at that, and Felix began worrying he’d said something wrong.

Then a slow golden grin creeped up from the lines of Turbo’s mouth, splitting into that winning smile Felix knew so well and looking bigger than he’d ever seen it.

“Turbo-tastic!” he exclaimed with such jubilation, complete with the thumbs-up and all.

Relief flooded through Felix at the sign of Turbo’s usual self making a return. He chuckled lightly in response to his friend’s enthusiastic reaction.

The door behind them opened. “Felix?”

It was Gene. The Nicelander found Felix’s eyes first, then threw Turbo a look of disdain as he spotted the trail of mud he’d left behind, shoes marking him as the culprit of the ruined hallway floors.

“Oh! What can I do for you, Gene?” Felix drew Gene’s attention back before he and Turbo started another argument about the latter's… lack of keeping proper house order.

“You were taking a while, so we thought to check on you.”

Felix nodded. “Well, as you can see, I was just having a little chat with Turbo here,” he gestured to the racer, who returned Gene’s flinty glare. “How are the plans coming along?”

“We need your input on some of the decorations and refreshments.”

“Oh… well, I’ll be right there with you all in just a moment,” he paused before quickly adding, "if you don't mind waiting a little longer, that is.”

Gene hesitated, flicking his gaze between the two protagonists. He then noticed the medal glinting from around Turbo’s neck and stared for a few seconds longer before giving a curt nod. “Just don’t take too long.” he retreated back into the room from whence he came, the door closing behind him.

Felix turned back to Turbo with an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that… I really should be getting back. I suppose I’ll be seeing you at the party?”

A smirk slid onto Turbo’s face. “You know there’s no party without me in it, haha. See you around, Felix.”

Turbo sauntered off with a slight swagger in his step as he made his way down the hall, dried mud no longer creating new tracks on the ground. Felix watched him go for a few moments before putting a hand on the door.

“Oh, and Felix?”

He turned back at the call of his name. Turbo’s eyes glowed with renewed spirit, his smirk spreading into a more genuine smile. “Thanks.”

Covering his mouth with a hand in mock astonishment, Felix teased, “Well I’ll be! I didn't know you had any manners, Turbo! Never thought I’d see the day…”

Turbo stuck out his tongue. “Yeah, yeah, don't get used to it.” he disappeared inside the elevator, and Felix smiled to himself before returning to the Nicelanders.

/\/\END NOTES/\/\

ok that's it for part one yayyy i'm trying not to ramble too much but um i hope you enjoyed and it makes you interested in reading the eventual other 4 parts i'll release at some point in time ??? should be sometime this month hopefully , no idea when tho , guess i'll update at some point idk . OK BYE <3