Blood alert: Don't wanna, don't read
Also there will be some curses, you have been warned
ALSO, English isn't my real language, I'm from Poland so please don't judge the mistakes that will show up in the chapter, I'm trying my best ;w;""
-PRIVATE!- Skipper yelled, immediately stoping his fight aganist crabs that were attacking him and his team at the Doctor Blowhole's commend.
He looked in fear at his teammate as he collapsed on the ground, his feathers covered in red liquid. Little penguin whimpered, tightly holding his flipper on wound on his stomach, trying to stop the bleeding.
Blowhole looked at the hurt penguin lying on the ground with satisfaction growing on his face. Young soldier was really getting on his nerves. While the rest of his team was fighting aganist his army of crabs, he tried to stop him personally from hitting the button on the machine that was supposed to bring a huge tsunami to all continents.
The mad scientist still wanted his revenge on humans. But obviously four penguins won't let him do that, and this was driving him really mad. He wanted to get rid of them for good. He wanted to make the leader hurt. But this what happened fit perfectly to his plan more than he knew.
-Private! Private, common...- leader cried as he rushed to his badly wounded teammate.
-Skippah...- whispered Private looking with fear in his eyes at Skipper.
-It's okay, little soldier, it's okay, you will get out of this.- he tried to calm him down, while examining his wound on stomach.
It was a bullet hole. Blowhole has shot him while hand-to-hand combat between these two, while Private let his guard down.
Ohh, he was so dumb. Why did he ever let Private fight aganist the dolphin by himself?! He should know that Private won't be able to fight him solo... But he also couldn't help him with fighting, he had to help Kowalski and Rico. Speaking of, where are they now? Haven't they noticed that their friend has been injuried?
The bullet hole wasn't big, but there was a lot of blood coming out of it and that worried Skipper, beacuse he didn't even had anything to stop the bleeding.
-Skipper, I'm sorry...- Private said sadly looking at his worried leader, but as he spoke, some blood escaped from his beak and that made him even more scared.
-No time to apologize now, Private. It's going to be okay, don't worry.- Skipper reasured him holding him tight to his chest.
But deep inside, the flat-headed penguin was worried as hell. He never actually held a dying soldier in his arms and- No. No he's not dying. He will be fine...
-Just keep looking at me, got it? Don't you dare close your eyes, you're not dying on me, you hear me?!- he shouted.
Private just nodded and kept looking into his leader icy-blue eyes with his own, light-blue ones, unsure what to say.
-Dang it, where are the others...? Kowalski? Rico?!- Skipper screamed looking everywhere in the room.
But there was no answer.
-Hey, Skippah... Do I was worth it?
-Worth what, Private?
-You know... Being the part of the team, fighting next to you, guys, being shot... Was I good enough?
And in that moment, Skipper felt a wave of regret coming up on his spine. How he always treated him, how Private made him proud so many times but he never actually praised him for that, how he always slapped him... So many memories flew through his mind at the moment...
-Of course you was, Private! You always been a great member of the team, how could you ever say something like that?
-... Sorry, I just thought that... Nevermind, forget it, sir.
-No, I understand why did you felt that way. I always made a lot of stupid comments towards you, but you has to know that I as a leader I cannot be a nice, friendly, fluffy guy...- he tried to justify himself.
Private reminded silent, carefully listening to his leader, beacuse he knew that the big, honest talk is about to kick in.
Skipper after a while, took a deep breath and continued:
-You know... I always been proud of all of you. I wanted to teach you everything I know, so you three can protect yourselfes and your beloved ones. Just like me but I didn't succes and I lost my two really good cadets that were also my best friends.
-You mean Manfredi and Johnson?
-Yes, Private... So after the accident I decided that as a leader I will try my best and the hardest to protect my soldiers. Always be ready to sacrifice myself. Make everything to make them happy. Be a role model...
-Well, Skippah, you're great at doing these all things at once.- Private smiled weakly.
-No I don't need your sympathy. You're hurt beacuse of me. I was supposed to be shot, not you. GODAMMIT, I WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOU!- he hissed, full of regret and disgust to himself.
He is the leader of the team, he should be the one fighting aganist Blowhole on his own, not his sweet, little Private... He should be the one who is bleeding out right now.
He felt so helpless... He held a weak little penguin in his arms, hugging him tightly to his chest, feeling his warm blood staining his white feathers. If he could just turn back the time... If he just-
-Oh, look who we have here.- Blowhole mocked.
Private winced, being afraid of his attacker who has shot him few minutes ago. Skipper felt it and he just glared at dolphin with a dull eyes, yet still full of fury, ready to protect Private for any costs. He won't fail this time.
-This went quicker and easier than I thought it would... I'm proud of the final product, tho.
-Shut up.
-Oh, dear Skipper... Tell me, how does it feels? Familiar?
-Holding the beloved one, watching him dies... Holding one of your dearest teammates... I didn't pick Private for no reason. I know you care for him the most.
-Bullshit.
-He is the one that keeps you going, right? Maybe he isn't usefull to the team, but you need him. You need him the most, don't even try do deny it, Skipper.- dolphin grinned, knowing that he is punching the oldest penguin right in the guts with these words.
Private looked kinda shocked, even with his tired expression. He was trying to not pass out beacuse of the big loss of blood and horrific pain that was comming out of his stomach.
Obviously, he knew Skipper cares about him, just like the rest of the team. But in a equal way. He never thought that Skipper loves him the most... Or maybe Doctor Blowhole was just bluffing?
No matter which was true, it made him flattered anyway. He always looked up into his leader, tried to impress him, show that he can become a valuable member of his team. Well, after the fight with Dave, Skipper and the rest finally noticed his potential, but... He always been the ,cute and innocent" one after all. Not that he don't like it, he does but he wanted to be more than just a sweet kid in the team.
And still... Skipper cares the most for him? That was the best news in his life! Life that was supposed to end soon...
-So, Skipper, tell me one thing: How do you imagine the rest of your life without your little Private, huh? You know, living in a zoo without him, fighting without him in the team, waking up everyday with this awful guilt? A guilt that is eating you up on the inside, day by day?- doctor finished, but the evil smile never left his face.
-... He is not going to die. I won't let him.- Skipper growled looking into his soldier again who was keeping resting his head on his chest
But there was something wrong... He was so weak, so scared... Hoping for his leader to help him.
-Private? You hear me? I won't let you die on me.- Skipper repeated, waiting for answer.
And at this moment his heart sunk as he noticed Private eyes were half closed, trying their best to stay opened, as the young penguin was taking his final breaths.
-No, no, no, no!- Skipper shouted, gentle shaking the small penguin's body to try to wake him up.
Private grunted, forcing himself to look at Skipper for the last time.
-It's going to be okay Private, you hear me? I won't let you die, you can't die! Common, it will be fine... It's going to be alright. I can't lost you.. I, I...- Skipper cried.
He was shaking. He never wanted to let Private get so terribly hurt. Not him and any of his teammates. So why... Why did that happen?
-Private, please say something, anything! Please don't leave me! I beg you! I need you. And Kowalski and Rico needs you too! Please, you will break their hearts too... Please stay strong...-Skipper choked out as he hugged Private with every strenght he had.
-Skippah... It will be fine... I know you guys are strong. You will get over it- Private tried to say, but a choked gasp that came out of nowhere interrupted him.
It was Kowalski and Rico. They both were shocked, standing in the other part of the room with some beated up crabs behind them.
-Private!- Kowalski screamed as he rushed towards his friend in his leader arms, Rico followed.
-Oh look, finally, we have the whole family togehter. See, Private? How nice!- Blowhole commented.
Private ignored the dolphin and lifted his head up to take a closer look at his beloved older brothers, happy to see them, even in that kind of situation.
-Skipper, what happened?!- asked Kowalski as he examined Private's wound.
-This bastard shot him...- Skipper growled looking at the mad scientist with his dead look.
But he wasn't the only one who did that. Rico mumbled something under his beak angirly as he made his terrific face expression.
Ohh, he's going to pay. No one is supposed to hurt his little brother.
-Rico I will let you end him later, but for now Private needs help.- Skipper ordered, calming down a little.
But Rico disobeyed. He didn't want to loose a chance to get his revenge on the mad scientist. He throwed up a chainsaw and looked right into suprised dolphin eyes.
-'U. Gon. Pai. For. That.- he hissed as he lunged into Blowhole's direction, waving his chainsaw in every directions.
Blowhole dodged the furious penguin's attack and started fleeing on his wheel machine (I have no idea how to translate this into English ;w;"").
-RICO GODAMMIT, GET BACK HERE!- Skipper yelled at his going crazy soldier.
-Rico!- Private whimpered, worried if his friend follows after Blowhole, he might get hurt by falling into one of his traps.
Rico stopped and looked sadly at Private. Then he looked at Skipper and pouted:
-Hurting a Blohol is a nu-nu?- he managed to mumble.
-No. At least not for now. Now get back here and give us some bandages to stop the bleeding.- Skipper commended.
Rico quickly slid on his belly to the rest of his team, swallowing his chainsaw before doing so. Then he throwed up some bandages as his leader told him to do so.
-See, young Private? Everything is going to be okay now.- Skipper was calming down his injuried friend, while Kowalski was patching up Private's wound.
But Private didn't respond. He was lying in his leader arms, lifeless, eyes closed. Only some blood would eventually fall down from his beak.
Skipper's eyes widnened and so the rest of the team did too. No it couldn't be, right?
-Private? Private, common speak to me! Open up your eyes, now! That's an order!- Skipper yelled, while shaking the young penguin's body that lied limp on his arms.
-P'vate?- Rico squeaked, as he started to realize what really happened.
-P-Private?- Kowalski asked, stopping wprapping up the bandages around the young penguin's stomach.
-For God sake, wake up!- Skipper continued yelling, feeling as his tears are coming up to his eyes.
-Private!- Kowalski cried as he hugged his little brother's body.
Rico was shaking as he put his wing on Private's head and started to rub it carefully. He was sobbing.
-Common, young soldier... It's fine now, nobody is going to hurt you now... You can wake up, you're safe with us...- Skipper pleaded, but aganist his struggle to not cry, he felt a warm liquid rolling down his face.
Kowalski didn't even try to stop himself, he cried like a little baby into Private's chest, hoping that he could still hear his heartbeat.
-Please... Please, I love you, I can't lost you now... I'm sorry for everything! I beg you, come back!- Skipper choked out between his sobs, hugging his soldier's body.
But it was it. Private was dead.
-He lost too much blood...- Kowalski suspected, still crying.
Skipper took a long breath, trying to stop crying and wheeping. He was a leader, he shouldn't break down near his teammates. But allas, how could be so calm? He just lost his best friend. His little brother. His teammate. His real will to live.
He is going to live with that guilt for the end of his life. He should protected Private's life. He should be a better leader. But what did he do? He just destroyed his team.
-Goodbye, young Private... You deserved better.- he whimpered as he burried his head under his dead friend's chin, listening to his and the rest of his teammates sobs.
He knew what was his next mission. So did Rico.
Catch the dolphin and make him wish he was never ever born.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter ;w; Next will be coming out soon, but you guys also can comment a request, maybe I will write it ;w;
