Dun-dun-DONE!
I hope everyone enjoys the ending. :3
"This is your idea of romantic?", Kowalski questioned as he looked around Marlene's cave. Nothing had changed except a picnic blanket and basket in the middle of the floor.
"Of course, people love picnics!" Noticing the flightless bird's unconvinced look she crumbled, "I worked with what I had, cut me some slack!"
Knowing he probably couldn't have done any better, Kowalski nodded. "It'll have to do. Although, perhaps some candles would increase said romantics?"
As if on cue Rico starting regurgitating candles of different sizes, they were already lit. He quickly placed them around the cave, chuckling every so often.
"I'm not even going to ask how he does that!" the Otter mused, amazed at how Rico is always full of what they need.
Kowalski leaned over and whispered, "I can assure you, you don't want to know…" a look of disgust crossed his face for a brief moment. "Alright, we'll get Skipper and Private. It should only take a few minutes."
Heading back to HQ the taller Penguin asked, "You remember the plan, Rico? I'll take care of Private, you deal with Skipper." Rico nodded excitedly.
Half an hour later Marlene was pacing and fidgeting, she couldn't stay still from being so nervous. She whipped around when she heard Private. "Ello Marlene, how are you?" he smiled happily.
"What is he doing here?!" came a voice opposite of the direction Private had entered. Skipper appeared from behind a bush.
"Kowalski said Marlene had butterscotch lollies!" Private rubbed his belly and licked his beak.
"Well Rico told me Vampire Spiders were attacking Marlene!" Skipper retorted.
Marlene was a little confused, "Vampire…. Spiders?"
Taking his attention away from Private he glared at Marlene, "Just what's going on here Marlene? Is this a set up!"
"Well… You could say that. Yes."
He cut her off before she could explain, "I can't trust anyone! Everyone's against me!"
She gawked at him for a moment, Skipper's loosing it she thought. "What?!… No one's against you! We're trying to help!"
"Aw, that's sweet Marlene…. Help with what exactly?" Private stupidly inquired.
Slapping a paw over her face she replied, "Get you two back together! Come on, you know you love each other, so what do you say? Give Private another chance Skipper?" She looked at him with hope in her eyes, only to release he was already walking away.
"No thank you, Marlene!" He was grabbed by his flippers and dragged into Marlene's cave. "Hey, unhand me!" She looked at him, for some reason her expression stopped him cold. Nothings more scary than an angry female, he thought to himself.
Private walked in behind Marlene, "It's not going to kill you to sit down and have dinner with Private. You owe him that much!" She ordered.
He admitted defeat, "Fine Marlene, you win this time. I'll play along this once, just to prove your little plan won't work!" Skipper sat down at one end of the blanket.
"Uh-huh, sure…" She looked back to the other Penguin, "Come sit over here Private." He did so, trying to avoid Skipper's hateful glare. "Okay, you two stay here and chat, there's some food in the basket. I'll be outside if you need me." Marlene smiled to herself as she left, this was bound to work. That or she'd have Kowalski wipe their memories.
Time seemed to drag on, neither one saying a word nor looking at the other. To distract himself from the awkward feeling Private began looking through the basket. He pulled out a bag of Goldfish crackers. "Oh look Skippa, your favorite!" He held them out for him to take, but Skipper just sat there. "Fine, I'll eat them myself!" Opening the bag he grabbed a flipper full and began eating.
"Well this sure has been fun, but I have training to do!" Skipper announced as he got up.
"Right, cause training will fix everything!" the other retorted.
Turning around to face Private he barked, "There's not to fix, Rupert! You cheated on me, end of story!"
Standing up Private yelled in return, "I told you it wasn't my fault!"
"If that is true, which I doubt it is, why didn't you stop him? Deep down you wanted it, didn't you?!" His eyes narrowed.
"I'm too scared he'll try blowing me up to want anything from Rico! It happened so fast and I was scared, I didn't know what to do!"
Skipper threw his flippers in the air, "Punch him, kick him, bite him. Do something besides stand there and take it!"
"Easy for you to say. You always know what to do, and you're never scared." Private frowned looking down at his feet, he had always admired Skipper for those very qualities.
"Flattery will get you nowhere Rupert.", Skipper pointed out.
"Stop calling me Rupert!"
"Well that's your name, Rupert. What are you going to do about it, Rupert?", Skipper kind of enjoyed mocking Private, it was making him feel better.
With sudden swiftness Private lunged at him, pinning him to the cave wall. "Stop being such a jerk Skippa, it's not fair!" tears began to well in his eyes.
Skipper struggled against Private but it was no use. He never knew the other had so much strength, he certainly never shown it before. As he stared at the electric blue eyes staring back at him, glazed over with tears his own expression began to lighten. A sudden pain struck him, the same pain that always struck him when he saw hurt in the young Penguins eyes. Those eyes should always be filled with happiness, he thought to himself.
Without warning flashes of the past clouded Skipper's mind.
A little Penguin still covered in down feathers was sitting at the edge of the platform, crying his little heart out. A Zoo keeper had just placed him in the habitat and the still young Skipper figured he must be scared to death. "Hey there Soldier!" Skipper had said in a calm manner. The little Penguins head shot up, frightened to the fact he wasn't alone. "It's okay, I won't bite." He joked, but the other recoiled anyways. He tried again, "My name's Skipper, what's your name?"
The tiny Penguin was silent for a moment, then looking up at Skipper with those adorable eyes he replied, "Ru-Rupert…"
"Rupert huh? That name doesn't suit you." Skipper said rubbing his chin. "Well little man, looks like you're now a member of the group. Come on, I'll introduce you to Rico and Kowalski." He started for the ladder but was stopped. The little Penguin had latched onto his side, burying his face in Skippers feathers. He could do nothing but blush, despite wanting to push the other away he just couldn't find it in himself to do so.
Another flash, another memory.
Skipper had been awakened to the fact his bed was being shared. He looked to find to was of course Private snuggled up to him. The young penguin had just lost all his down and was sporting new black feathers. He nudged Private, who looked up at him, "You're getting too old for this soldier."
Private pouted, "B-but Skippa, I had a nightmare! Please let me sleep with you tonight!" he pleaded, those eyes boring into him.
He relented, "Alright, but this is the last time." Laying his head down he cursed himself for letting Private watch scary movies with Rico.
"Thank you Skippa, it won't happen again, I promise." Private had said as he snuggled back up to him. Of course it wasn't the last, but every time was the same pleading eyes and the same promise.
"…You're eyes turned me gay…" Skipper commented still in a haze of memories.
Private looked perplexed, "What did you say?".
Shaking his head to clear it of visions. "Nothing, nothing at all.", he defended quickly, but found himself trapped once again by the other Penguins eyes.
Outside Marlene was joined by the other two Penguins. "How's it going in there?" Kowalski asked.
She shaked her paw, giving the 50/50. "I heard yelling a few minutes ago, but then it got quiet…"
"Picnic!" Rico squawked.
He couldn't take it anymore, how could he resist those eyes, sad and pleading. From the very beginning they had the power to melt his heart. Skipper swooped him into a hug, Privates feet no longer touching the ground. Stunned briefly, he quickly returned the hug. Happy to finally feel the affection he has known his whole life, the affection that was his whole life.
After a moment Skipper pulled out of the hug. "I suppose I could give you one more chance. But there better not be a repeat of this, got that Soldier?"
Private saluted, "Affirmative Skippa!"
A several minutes (and a few make out sessions) later, the two Penguins exited Marlene's cave holding flippers. "I've got to hand it to you Marlene, that was a good picnic." Skipper admitted while Private giggled. Pausing for a moment, Skipper looked back, "Oh and Rico, you're on probation!" They both continued walking.
Rico groaned, his punishment had just begun. Private waddled back, and whispered something in his invisible ear. As he left to catch up to Skipper Rico's attention fell on Kowalski. A demented grin crossed his beak.
Puzzled, the taller Penguin opened his mouth to speak but was tackled to the ground, "MATE!" Rico sang.
"Oh that's just gross!" Marlene shrieked.
The Ends
Teehee, Private played matchmaker! 3