Disclaimer - I don't own anything.
A/N: This is a Pripper story, as in Skipper/Private. If you don't like the pairing or even hate it then this isn't for you. It's going to have a few chapters - not over the top though. Also since I'm posting this story on tumblr too, does anyone know other good names other then Pipper?
oOoOo
The sound of loud crashes filled the base making Rico look up from his magazine, 'Dynamite Monthly', and with a small groan he dog eared the page he was on and threw the magazine on the table before standing up. He gave a small stretch with a grunt and waddled his way over to the open door that led to Kowalski's lab.
Rico stopped at the doorway for a moment to listen to the sounds of things crashing and metal banging. He blinked owlishly before popping his head in.
"'Walski?"
"Hm?"
Kowalski turned around and lifted the protective gear that was covering his face to look at Rico, "Yes, Rico?"
Rico made several grunts, pointing his flipper around the room. Kowalski stared for a moment before looking at the spots Rico pointed to. On one side of the room was a large metal trash can filled with several types of laser rays, another held different part of machines he never got around too. And in a bin, with several stickers saying radioactive, was different vials and beakers.
"Ah, yes, what am I doing? Well it's that time of year again, got to clean up the ol' lab," Kowalski said giving a nod, he slipped his mask back on and made sure his gloves where fine before reaching in the little fridge where he held all of his test tubes, potions, hazardous material and soda.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Rico inch his way over to look in the bin of tubes and oozing liquid.
"Ohm," Rico muttered, his flipper reaching in to grab a brightly colored tube. But before he could touch it his flipper was slapped away by another.
"Rico! I don't think I can stress enough the dangers of touching hazardous waste! These are failed experiments! If you touch one of these without proper protective equipment who knows what would happen! Super powers, no powers, a third eye! Anything could happen and as stated in the world wide lab rule book, section eight dash four, rule three hundred and seventy six you must always use the utmost precaution!"
Rico gave him a flat look and pointed to the cup of purple ooze that Kowalski took out of the fridge.
"Yes, well, um, I ran out of tubes what was I supposed to do?"
Rico just rolled his eyes at the other penguin and shrugged. But they both jump at a new voice.
"Look alive boys!"
"Skipper!" Kowalski said using a gloved flipper to remove the face mask, "You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"Oh really? That's why you always need to be prepared Kowalski, you never know who enemies will finally learn a thing or two and come after us in the night, sneaking in like the sneaky sneakers they are."
Both Rico and Kowalski gave each other a look before sharing a nervous laugh before either of them could say anything though Skipper grabbed the metal cup from Kowalski's hand.
"Didn't think my coffee was strong enough for protective gear solider! But that's just how I like it," Skipper said proudly, raising a brow. Without a word Skipper downed the whole cup making Rico let out a girly shriek and Kowalski a dramatic gasp.
Skipper snapped his beak a little before licking it, "That's odd. This doesn't taste like my normal cup of good ol' joe. Not as strong. Are you boys trying to play a prank on me?" Skipper said with a smirk, nudging Rico in his side with the elbow of his flipper.
"Uh…,"
"Uh – yes! Yes! Haha, you sure got us Skipper!" Kowalski said nervously, he snapped his gloves off before throwing them off to the side. "We switched to decaf! We thought you wouldn't noticed."
"Decaf? Only hippie's drink decaf! I like the strong stuff, you know this Kowalski."
"Um, yes, I know. Just trying to keep you on your toes Skipper."
Rico looked at Kowalski like he grew a second head and as he opened his mouth to say something he suddenly got slapped in the back of the head. "Ow!"
"How about we make you another cup then, of the strong stuff! Something to really make you shake your tail feathers?"
Skipper snapped his beak again, wondering about the taste of the last cup. But with a shrug he gave the cup to Kowalski, "Go ahead, surprise me. I wanna be able to not sleep for days."
"Sure thing boss!" Kowalski said grabbing the cup with one flipper and dragging a dumfounded Rico with the other.
Before they made it to the coffee machine Rico pulled his flipper away and shook his head, "Nu – uh!"
"What?"
The sounds that came of out of Rico's mouth where near gibberish but Kowalski seemed to understand it none the less as he grabbed Rico's flipper as the bigger penguin started to make his way back to the lab.
"We can't tell Skipper!"
Rico gave him a blank look before pulling his flipper away, again, and crossing them over his chest. "Why?"
"Because don't you see what just happened!? He drank one of my old experiments and it did nothing to him, nothing that we know of any way! We need to study his behavior first before I can find a cure that with flush the potion out of his system!"
Rico looked torn making Kowalski sigh, "Look it'll only be for a day or two – a week at the most! If I can't figure out what will happen to him there is no way for me to make a cure! I can't make a cure now assuming things – it might make everything worse."
"Oh," Rico muttered. He looked at the cup before pointing a flipper to it, " 'Innit?"
"What is it? I-I'm not sure," Kowalski confessed. He took the cup to the sink before washing it out, turning it over in the process. On the bottom was a small label in bold letters, 'Love Potion #9'.
"Good gravy! Love potion number nine!" Kowalski gasped he looked over at Rico who gave him a sly look making him splutter.
"I didn't make it for me!"
"Uh huh."
"Look it was for a friend of a friend type of thing. She liked this otter but was confused when this chipmunk came into the picture and – wait why am I even explaining this to you? Anyway – the potion is for the most part harmless."
"Most?" Rico questioned.
"Yes, most. You see it simply works with your brains cortex to trick you into having deeper feelings for a person you already have feelings for. A boost, so to say, it gave you the confidence to profess your love and to make your move!" Kowalski said proudly, making a fist with his flipper. He heard a snicker and turned to Rico who once again gave him a smirk.
"I didn't make it for me!"
"Uh huh." Rico said not believing it at all.
"But this – this could be a good thing! Skipper has no time for silly things like love and affection! Chances are the potion just might run its course without doing a thing. I doubt Skipper has such deep feelings for someone that even he doesn't know about them."
Rico gave a sigh of relief before grabbing the mug out of Kowalski' flipper. He pulled the sticker off before slapping it on Kowalski's forehead with a chuckle and making his way over to the coffee machine to pour his captain a cup.
"Very Rico, very funny."
