Terry looked into the ocean black eyes of his now former leader.
"Why are you letting me go, again?"
"You're not a follower. Go pick your own team."
"Not a follower?"
"You're a repeater seemingly. Alright. You'll need a lieutenant first."
"Who'd you recommend?"
"Someone younger than you. No one likes taking orders off a kid."
"He has to be able to fight. Defend himself."
"Goes without saying. Anything else?"
"It might be good for him to be smart. Unlike me."
"Hmm.."
"Who're you thinking of?"
"Come with me. I might have someone."
In the lab, Kurai watched his son very closely as he performed a delicate experiment.
"Your flipper's shaking."
"Sorry."
"Did I say you could speak?"
Silence.
"Oh, he's defending himself great!" Terry said, sarcastically.
"Oh, shut up!"
Kurai's boy looked up curiously.
"DID I SAY YOU COULD...!"
The bellow startled him and the kid dropped the test tube. Bright green liquid dissolved a part of the table. Big Daddy didn't even blink at Kurai's look of deep resentment and dislike.
"You,look at me!" The boy looked at him. It was only then Terry noticed that he had the exact shade of Kurai's eyes. Blue, like a sapphire.
"You are a failure! You were born a failure, you will die a failure, and no one, no one, will ever want you, be it in a team or family. You're worthless!"
"You sure you don't want him?" Big Daddy murmured. Terry gave him a sideways look. That sly old dog. He knew Terry hated unfairness and cruelty, especially to kids. Kurai's boy was no more than 17 or 18.
"I want him on my team."
"You don't. He's a worse scientist than you. And that's saying something."
"It's not up to you. This is between him and I."
"Who do you choose?"
"I..I dunno."
"Choose."
The kid said nothing, but it was clear he wanted to go. Kurai shot him a poisonous look.
"Fine. Go."
"Father..."
"When do you take him off my flippers?" Kurai asked, ignoring his son.
"As soon as possible."
That was true. Terry had a feeling that if the kid were to be left alone with his father, there would be flippers a-flying. And not the son's.
"Today?"
Terry shrugged.
"Today." Kurai said as if confirming it to himself. " Boy. Go to the house and collect your belongings. Anything left behind will be burned."
"Yes, Father."
He made to clear the spill, but at his father's shout of "Leave it!" chose not to.
"I'll see you whenever." Big Daddy said before departing. As the 2 penguins made their way through endless corridors, Terry realised how tall Kurai's son was. Then he realised he didn't know his name.
"What's your name?"
"Kowalski."
"Isn't that a last name?"
"Father didn't give me a name."
What a...
"W-what's yours?"
"T-" Terry stopped. He wanted to be his friend, obviously, but he couldn't be called by his first name if he was the leader.
"Skipper."
His father had been a kindly, encouraging, name-giving father.
Poor Kowalski, right? I've been wanting to write this for some time. This is gonna be like a Skipper and Kowalski bonding fic, I guess. There are like none, except those I've I hope you like it. REVEIEWS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ARE VERY WELCOME AND ALWAYS WILL BE!
Love Shania
