Author's Note: THAT KEANU GIF I'M DEAD (I make a reference to it later in the chapter just because asdffgfjfjkfldldldj)
80sHoe this was the Keanu gif I was talking about that gives me life omg

I asked him what was so funny.

Apparently I had screamed. And I will never live this down.

I screamed "Neo."

I woke up strapped to the chair as if nothing happened. My heart was pounding, and coming out of it felt like waking up from a nightmare. Coda was at my side, and he had grabbed my hand. I think he was taking my pulse.

"You're back," he breathed, sounding relieved.

Neo was sitting up in his chair chuckling as Bit unplugged him. He walked over to me with a knowing smile.

"Got scared, did you?"

"Shut up," I said, red faced and looking at my feet.

Hand on shoulder. Big surprise.

"Hey, I'm kidding. It was cute," he smirked.

Cute? Cute?? Did Neo call me cute? Okay now you really need to take your hand off me or I'm going to burst into flames.

I gave a shaky laugh, not even daring to look up.

"Hah, y-yeah?" I wheezed out.
Stop blushing you idiot, you don't even know him!

Neo just laughed to himself.

I felt like I was on fire.

Neo walked away and let Bit and Coda download more fighting programs into me. I laid back down, happy to close my eyes and not have to look at anyone else for another hour or so.

I went for another 3 hours, as it turned out, and when I was pulled out of the program, I felt surprisingly rested.

My eyes opened up and I found Neo sitting in my wheelchair, waiting for me. Immediately my eyes snapped shut again. I wanted to stop seeing him. After I sighed, I looked at Neo again.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

Neo's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Did I do something wrong?"

"No. Ugh, sorry, that came off rude... no, I just mean... why do you keep helping me with things? The chair, the programming... I heard the others talking about you, and you're amazing! Why bother with me? Don't you have something else to attend to instead of the newbie?"

Neo smiled a genuine smile.

"Who better to train the newbie than the one who mastered it all?"

I knew he wasn't being cocky about this. Just from overhearing Morpheus and Tank, I knew he was good. The best, even. But why waste the best on the worst?

"Tomorrow, I'd like to fight you. It'll be one-on-one, and the others won't watch," Neo stated.

"The others were watching today?" I asked worriedly.

"They monitor the tests, yes."

I mentally cursed myself.

"I probably looked like a fool," I goraned, head falling back against the chair.

"No one gets it on the first try, don't worry," Neo reassured me. His hand covered my own. "Not even me."

I looked up at him. His eyes were sparkling.

"Keep training with me, you'll get there in no time,"

My eyebrows knitted together in realization.

"Is it because of the wheelchair? Are you helping me because I'm stuck in this chair?" I finally asked.

"No, that's not it,"

"Neo. I've had five ex-boyfriends. I know when somebody is lying to me. Be honest; you're only putting this much effort into me because you feel bad for me."

He squeezed my hand. Stop doing that.
"If I was pitying you, you'd know it. This is just me. All me."

He opened his arms as a symbolic way of saying see? Nothing to hide.

Even in his shabby, oversized sweater, he looked genuine and handsome.

I am personally being lit on fire every time I'm in the same room with him and I hate it.

***

The next morning was embarrassing. Not only was I the newbie who was afraid of heights and can't walk, I'm now known as the newbie who needs Trinity to help her get dressed.

After wrestling with myself for 15 minutes trying to get pants on my useless legs, I gave up.

"Trinity?" I called feebly, hoping no one else would come to the door and see me half-dressed.

Footsteps were heard outside the door.

"Trinity!" I said, a bit louder.

I swear if Neo opens that door I will smash my head through those computers out there.

"Kate?" It was Coda. He cracked open the door.

"Hey, don't come in!" I said hastily, "Can you get Trinity for me? I need a hand with something."

"Oh, I can help," Coda offered.

"I'd rather it be Trinity...," I mumbled in embarrassment. "I can't get dressed with my legs like this."

I couldn't even see his face but I knew the kid had gone red.

"Oh. Yeah. Okay, sorry." He hurried off, and a minute later, Trinity came in.

"Coda says you can't get dressed," she said, trying to hide a laugh. The laugh, I knew, was directed at Coda, not my inability to dress myself. "I don't know what you told him, but he's beet red."

I stopped a chuckle half-way. "Coda's a sweet kid."

"Yeah," Trinity started, lifting my leg up and helping me wiggle into some sweats. I really felt useless right now, but couldn't bring myself to say it. "And Neo's treating you well?"

"Yeah, awesome," I blushed, wanting to get off the topic of Neo ASAP.

"He tells me you yelled for him when you fell,"

Groan.
"Whyyy does everyone need to know that?" I whined. Trinity broke a smile as she got the pants on me.

"It's sweet," she said, patting me on the back.

"It's not sweet," I complained, "I was terrified!"

"Alright, alright... I know. That's definitely the most terrifying part. You ready now?"

I nodded a yes and Trinity lifted me into my chair.

She started pushing me out of the room, leading me back to the computers where I got hooked up. Neo was already in the Matrix, and he looked pretty peaceful in the chair with his eyes closed...

I still felt exhausted, and this sight made me want to climb right onto Neo's chest, bury my face in his neck, and sleep for a few more hours...

I want to slap myself for that thought. How many times do I need to be reminded that I don't even know this man?

But... Look how peaceful he looks when he's sleeping. Awww.

My internal dialogue was interrupted as Trinity helped me transfer out of my chair.

Bit plugged me in, and I slowly shut my eyes. Is this my life now? Constantly being either plugged into a computer or wheeled around in a chair?

I felt myself go under, and I appeared in an empty room. There was a balcony overlooking a wooden floor covered with mats. Neo was on the balcony.

He looked down with a smile, then he raised his eyebrows and waved cheerily at me when he realized I was there. I waved shyly back.

He was in that tight black shirt again.
Help.

He was smiling, his face glowing as he hopped down from the balcony.

"What are we doing here today, Mr. Neo?" I asked as cheerily as I could without blushing.

"Karate," he said with a wink.

Don't. Ever. Wink at me. Again. Please.

He must have noticed that I looked pretty dejected, because --yep, called it-- his hand went to my shoulder. He still wore that awesome smile.

"You know karate, remember?"

"Oh, I remember, it's just that you're... The One. There isn't even a chance that I can beat you if you're as good as they say," I shrugged.

"I'll let you win," his cheek quirked up when he flashed a little smirk.

If you do that again I'm going to jump on you.

"The point isn't to win, it's to unlock your potential," he informed. He stepped back and opened his arms. For a split second, I thought he wanted a hug. Fine by me.

"Hit me. If you can," he challenged.

Oh, so no hug?
My brain suddenly reverted to fifth grade logic of "how can I get a hug from him without letting him know I like him because of course I don't."

Maybe after I fight him I'll either do so well that he'll give me a big hug and tell me I'm the best student he's ever taught and-- crap, he's moving, that's fast.

He went for the first hit. And he hit me.

Free your mind. Forget that tight shirt.

Finally I shut up and let The Matrix do the talking for me. I moved fluidly, my legs excited to be able to move again, and slowly, Neo and I picked a pattern. He was, of course, letting me get hits on him, but instead of attacking me, he blocked me as a way to infuriate me and make me try harder.

I lunged forward with more power than I'd intended and ended up kicking his jaw. He then in turn grabbed my foot and flipped me over onto my back.

"Are you going to hit me or not?"

Stop taunting me, you handsome jerk.

"Handsome? Oh really, I didn't know you felt that way,"

Aw man, I said that it loud, didn't I?

"Yeah, I did. Handsome until I get my hands on you," I quipped back.

"Then are you going to attack or not?"

As soon as I was up, he swept my legs. I was on my back again. I jumped up again and he countered with throwing me off balance. His objective was not to hurt me. Just to make me riled up, I guess.

I was up this time, determined to stay up.
It's not real.

Suddenly, it felt like I was flying, and the program took over for me. I made some shots on his behalf, blocked a few, it couldn't really be called fair, but he made it even to my skill level.

I almost stopped seeing him as human, as Neo, as anything. Just an opponent with no name. And it worked well.

The training session took an abrupt turn when I lunged at Neo. He swerved to dodge me and I ended up on my back, again. But not before I took a mid-air sweep at his legs.

He toppled down unexpectedly, seeing how he was playing to appease me.

Now he was on top of me. My breath quickened, but I hoped the redness and quick heartbeat could be attributed to the karate, not the handsome man.

There were only a few inches of space between my lips and his. I could literally kiss him and make it look like an accident.

And he wasn't moving to get off, either. If I wasn't mistaken, which I probably was, it seemed like he was looking at my mouth.

Kiss him kiss him kiss him.

I chickened out immediately. I never ever made the first move with any of my exes, and today, Neo was not the exception.

I stayed still, pinned under Neo's weight, and watched his lips as he breathed. What he was waiting for, I'll never know, but I do know that it was better than a hug...