He stared at him, his short stature in the shadow of the taller one. The light was already dim in the Spring evening, so he felt like he could be concealed; felt like he could quietly slip away. But he wasn't one to back down from anything, especially when it was something he initiated. "Skipper, is this... mano y mano talk about what we've discussed numerous times before?" Kowalski sounded so apathetic, it shocked the commanding officer enough for him to express the emotion on face for one, fast moment. "Yes, Kowalski... The same conversation..." The scientist's sky blue eyes showed a hint of sadness in them. "...with a minor tweak," Kowalski quickly recovered from his show of emotion, his face taking on a hard expression. "What kind of tweak can you make to this repetitive dialogue, Skipper?" The leader listened as the anger rose in the scientist's voice. "Did you somehow rephrase all your petty excuses?" "No. Soldier, listen-" "No, no, no! Skipper! You listen!" Kowalski hovered over Skipper, a mixture of hurt and rage on his face. "Every time you ask for both of us to speak alone, you say the same thing! Over and over again you tell me of 'Don't ask, don't tell' and how 'It's not you, it's me'! I already get that you don't want a relationship!" "But this time's different!" Skipper felt vunerable and puny having Kowalski tell him off. "How is it possible for this time to be different? If this wasn't the 5th time you've done this, I'd have more of a reason to hope," The taller penguin noticeably mellowed out, but the venom still managed to still sink deep into Skipper's chest. Skipper felt himself on the verge of tears. The leader had brought this on himself. "Kowalski, I know what I've said... I know the words have hurt you," Skipper sighed sadly. How could he have been such an idiot. "Is this an apology?" Kowalski asked, flippers folded across his chest. "Negative, Kowalski," "Then what is this?" The two locked eyes and Skipper felt his stomach flutter in that girly, 'God, I love him' sort of way. "It's... It's..." Skipper thought for a moment. "It's more of a revelation than an apology, Kowalski. You see, when you had told me that you think you and I had mutual feelings for each other, I got a bit paranoid that I was making it too obvious," Kowalski's face softened. "So, I tried to act how my old commanding officer did. I told you probably the most homophobic things I could. But I realized that the more I pushed you away, the more I wanted you near," Skipper looked into Kowalski's eyes. "So what are you saying?" Kowalski sounded serious but he was obviously hiding a smile. "I'm saying that I'm done pretending," Skipper grabbed Kowalski down to his height. "I'm saying that I love you,"