DANGER MOUSE:
THE CORNER OF HIS EYE
(Contains spoilers for "Henemy of the State")
WRITTEN BY ZARIUS
As Danger Mouse and Professor Squawkencluck argued over who would pay the repair bill for the Great Wall of China, DM's faithful assistant Penfold was seated at the edge of the seat waiting for something specific to occur.
It had been happening for a bit since the day's events had concluded, and he was puzzled over what it had meant.
He was glad to see the Chief and Squawk arguing like old times, their relationship had taken quite a hit in the span of the last week, what with Squawk feeling unappreciated by DM and taking her inventions elsewhere, leading to them falling into more dangerous hands.
She had been dead set on staying away from the Danger Agency too, and it took a chance encounter in an automated car to put her in the right position to help DM achieve the means with which to save the world yet again from Baron Greenback.
In doing so, Squawk realised just how much DM did value her and her skills, and it had led to her making use of two more innovations in her range to give DM the upper hand.
Only one of the devices used wasn't of her invention.
It was Penfold who had come up with the toaster that the Professor had used to trigger the fire extinguishers in the frog's head flyer, which assisted in freeing them from the Baron's clutches, but despite Penfold's protests that Squawk was taking credit for his hard work, his voice was not listened to as the top priority came with preventing a solar weapon from incinerating the planet.
Penfold had every mind to confront Squawk about this, as now he was the one who didn't feel appreciated.
Maybe he ought to quit the Danger Agency like Squawk did, and be dead set on not returning. There wouldn't be any reason to return, there wouldn't be a sly toad disguising himself as a sincere and caring entrepreneur looking to give him a place to practise his innovations in peace, there could just be him, his toaster designs, and hopefully a tennis court fashioned after the one the Professor had in her office.
Yes, leaving the agency to pursue your own ambitions was a fine choice, but something prevented him from making good on the intention. The same issue that was keeping him from having a cross exchange of words with the glory leeching Squawkencluck.
Penfold hesitated arguing with her because something had happened just before the fuss about China broke out, when she was relaxing in the lounge with DM.
He noticed a look from her, just in the corner of his eye.
It was a slow, fixated, longing look, one which indicated she had long thought of a few interesting ways to pass the time between now and when working hours recommenced.
He wasn't sure who the look was aimed at, not from the angle he was standing in at the time, he was sure it was either for him or for the Chief.
He thought back to the events of the day and pondered whether or not this was the reason she took credit for his toaster?
Perhaps she did so knowing it'd give her excuse to later look upon the source of the last great resource she had relied upon to bring the Earth to a peaceful state with great admiration and some sensual intent.
It didn't take long for Penfold to dismiss the latter possibility; he didn't deem it appropriate without the full facts
Still, whenever something annoyed him or he felt he wasn't getting due credit, he would always think back to that look Squawk was giving an individual that fateful day, a longing, loving, appreciative look.
Whether it meant something more was sufficient fuel for a wilder imagination than his.