A/N: WARNING. THIS FANFICTION CONTAINS MUCH VIOLENCE AND SOME VERBAL ABUSE. IS ONLY RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 12+. ENJOY.
Private stood in the newest wreckage he had created from their seemingly simple mission. It seemed so easy spoken, but as soon as he had attempted it, he turned it into pure chaos. All he had to do was scale the six story building and reach the top, reuniting with his comrades above, bringing them to the goal of being able to practice their training skills easily without the slightest hint of disturbance.
Mainly caused by the perky otter, Marlene, or the annoying and blundering lemur 'king' and his fortress of ignorant servants.
He was half way up, climbing diligently, feeling the cool wind wisp under his feathers. His surroundings made him unaware of his ungraceful position, and he had become tangled. The rope seemingly wrapping and curling itself around his body, making him tumble in mid-air. This caused him to slip and plummet three feet down, only to be caught, seconds before hitting the ground.
He looked up at his rescuer, only to be stricken with fear from what he saw. His leader loomed above him, an angry expression covered his face. He had never been angrier with him.
Private just stood there, he shut his eyes and cowered, tucking his tail between his legs, just waiting for a slap to rain down upon him.
Skipper couldn't care less about his submission or punishment as he set the youth down and waddled off to the others, without the slightest word or phrase spoken. Private stood there, completely dumb-founded as to why Skipper hadn't said or done anything.
At first he shook it off as nothing, but soon became a bit frightened, what if a worse punishment was yet to be given? He shuttered in the thought as he looked down. He had noticed his teammates mumbling to each other right before taking off to the HQ. He followed, lingering behind them, still thinking about what was to become of him once they arrived back to their habitat. He played with the tip of his flippers and bit the bottom of his beak nervously.
None of his teammates had spoken, or even changed their dull expressions since they began walking. This couldn't help but to worry Private even further as he gulped.
They had finally made it to their destination. "Home sweet home?" thought Private awkwardly as he stepped inside.
He had noticed neither Kowalski nor Rico had followed, which only left him and his leader there in complete and udder silence.
Private burst out crying and begging before his leader could even speak, tail tucked beneath him once more as he got down on his knees, holding onto his leader's ankle, "I'm so sorry Skippah! I'm sorry I slipped up, I'm so sorry for ruining the entire mission, I –"
He was thoroughly interrupted by the older penguin as he kicked him of his leg, "You idiot! I ask you to do one simple task, and you can't even do that!" Skipper yelled as he whipped around and starred down at the weak and cowering penguin bellow him. He couldn't bear to look down at the shattered face of the innocent private. He didn't want to do this, but he simply couldn't tolerate his screw ups any longer. If this was what it took to straighten the young penguin out, then this is what he would do.
It was risky, possibly traumatizing his soldier like this, but at the same time, it was his last and only resort when it came to this. He had given him so many opportunities to pick himself up and dust himself off, but this was the last time.
Private, meanwhile still on the floor, placed his flipper's over his head and closed his eyes as he saw a large flipper coming down on him, he yelped as he was struck, right on his side, which was very uncommon, not to mention painful.
Skipper winced as he heard the tiny soldier squeal in pain. He also heard the loud smack as it echoed through the HQ, bouncing through the rooms' exterior. But he continued anyways.
"You have to understand that being the leader carries a lot of responsibilities, and you messing up this frequently in NOT making things any better!" another smack. This time on his right cheek. And with another hit, came another yelp.
Loud sobs and hiccups escaped Privates beak as he gasped in between his muffled words, "I-I'm sorry! Hic! I-I really didn't mean to, hic! Mess up! Honest! Hic!" tears streamed down his face as they hit Skipper webbed toes, one by one.
Skipper's look softened, but afterwards became filled with rage again as he hit the penguin once more, this time on his left cheek.
Private continued on begging, until he was slapped again on either the side or cheek. He had given up on trying to talk his leader out of this torment, for with every word spoken came another strike, almost when he least expected it. He just stayed quiet, shivering and hiccupping as he looked to the ground in shame.
His eyes were red and puffy from the tears, and his cheeks and thighs burned like nothing he had ever felt before. He was miserable. He thought the torment would never end.
Just when he thought another hit was about to come, he felt a flipper begin to stroke his sore side in soothing circles, thus calming him down.
He looked up helplessly and saw his leader, now looking miserable as well as he spoke, in a now calm tone, "It's alright…it's over now…it was just a lesson…it's ok…" he looked at the quivering private, who looked like a small and battered puppy, who had been trampled dozens of times by a stampede of larger dogs.
Private lost it and grabbed onto Skipper, hugging him, and crying into his shoulder. Skipper let this slide as he proceeded to stroke Private's back. He let a single silent tear fall from his face. "He still trusts me…after all this he still wants me to comfort him…inside he must hate me though…" thought Skipper as he got up, with Private in his wings. He cradled him like a new born chick as he placed him gently in his bunk.
"There…you must be tired…you can sleep in Private…" Skipper made sure to lay the shivering penguin down on his stomach, not wanting to cause anymore pain to his sore thighs. He sat at the edge of the bed, still trying to calm Private down by stroking his feathers.
"I'm, hic, sorry!" Private continued to apologize for his actions as he slowly fell asleep. Tears still marked his face.
Skipper sighed once he heard Private breathing smoothly, now in his dream land, as he got up and grabbed the lunacorn doll, neatly tucking it under Private's wing as he continued to walk through the HQ, trying to find a blanket to place over the youth as well.
As long as he lived, he never wanted to put Private or himself through that physical and mental torture ever again…
