Blind Date
by Bryan

Total panic. That's what John Miller was feeling right about now. His friend and teammate Catherine Pierce had set him up on a blind date and he was very nervous. He fumbled with his razor as he cut his cheek.

"Ahh, geez, that smarts!" he said as the blood slowly clotted.

Hearing the commotion, the robot Microwave looked in on the humanoid representing the class Insecta.

"Self is no expert on the human ritual of dating, but self believes the chemical construct of 'Shaving Cream' works better than the chemical construct of 'Tooth Paste' to remove hairs from the crano-facial region. Tooth Paste is to clean teeth," the android observed

Realizing his folly, John Miller now became angry. "Great, a robot can do this better than me!"

"Self would recommend --" Microwave started.

"I don't need your help, you, you, you... you ANYLITICAL ANDRIOD!" John yelled and threw the bottle of tooth paste at the robot.

Feeling bad, John crawled up the side of the wall and rested on the ceiling. It was his equivalent of crawling under a rug, as no rug was in the bathroom, nor was it a guarantee he'd fit under one. Besides, ever since he became the Ant, John Miller had nightmares about being stepped on.

Thirty minutes had gone by before Catherine finally came in to get him.

"Stop acting so melodramatic, this will work out great. She likes bugs. She thinks they are really cool."

"Is she in entomology?" John asked excitedly.

"No, but she thinks it's fascinating. She's in Herbtomolgy... I think. She studies reptiles and amphibians."

"Herpetology. John corrected her. He let go of the ceiling and flipped around to land perfectly on the floor. He felt the panic leaving and he was determined to make this work.

"Sugah," Catherine said as he ran out to the Freedom Force's garage.

"Yeah?" John asked.

"You still have toothpaste on your face..."

Wiping it off, John left the building.

John had to hand it to Catherine, she was great at organizing dates and stuff. She was also good at hexing her foes, sending them to alternate dimensions, and altering their mental states. Well, she picked good restaurants, despite the fact that she could be really, really scary. He pulled the convertible he borrowed from Bullet into the parking lot of Anthony's Italian Diner and turned off the ignition.

Thinking he'd try to impress the ladies, hopefully Kelly if she was already at the restaurant, he jumped from the car without opening the door. Unfortunately, his super human agility failed him this time. He nearly cleared the side of the car, but his foot got caught. He fell to the pavement below but luckily the only thing badly hurt was his pride.

Walking into the restaurant, he requested the table reserved under his name. Being lead there, he saw...her.

She's perfectly beautiful. Her green eyes reflect the pools of light. Her red hair danced in the wind. She spoke his name he melted. Kelly Jean McAirland was one of the most beautiful girls John Miller had ever seen.

The night was perfect. Just as John thought all the problems were worth it, he saw an opportunity to make it better. She noticed it too, but she had no idea what John has planned. She made note of their guest.

"Look! It's a little ant, how cute." she said, in love with the little bug. "Ants are my favorite insects."

"Mine too." John replies with an inward smile.

One part of John's powers as the Ant is the ability to control the critters. He made the one they've seen pick up a flower on the table that had fallen off of its stem and carry it over to his date. She picked up the flower and smiles at John.

They did not notice the shadow looming above them.

The waiter's hand came down right on top of the little ant.

"Pest," the waiter said as he smiled towards the two horrified on-lookers. He didn't get the "thank you" he'd expected.

"JERK!" Kelly screamed as she hit the waiter with her purse.

John was very affected by the attack. Not only was the ant like a child to him, but when one under his control was hurt, he felt it. The waiter had hit pretty hard.

"I suppose you want a tip?" John asked.

The waiter nodded.

"Run. Away. Fast. Run away very fast."

John was normally very calm, but he could become enraged, and when he did, he was a mean little bug.

John Miller chased the waiter around the restaurant. When he finally caught up to the ant smusher, he shoved the man up and into a near by trash can.

Returning to the table, he offered to walk Kelly to her car, but she took the bus, so he took her home. They made small talk all the way.

"I had a great time tonight, John. Despite that horrid man, at the end."

"Me too, Kelly."

"We should do it again sometime." She said, kissing his cheek. "Oh, and John?"

"Yeah."

"I know you're The Ant."

John felt his heart stop.

"G'night, my hero."

FIN