Six days have passed since the night Julien had gave his confession to Skipper. His training exercises with the team have went from basic to complex, and almost life threatening. It seemed that he was the only one that wasn't feeling completely exhausted after long session.
Kowalski, Private, and even Rico dropped to the floor in their headquarters panting. The leader hopped down and looked at his groaning friends.
"Fish and crackers men, are you this tired already?"
"S-Skippa..your pushing r-really hard.." the young one admitted, he hated going against what his leader said, everyone has a limit though.
Truth be told, Skipper was pretty exhausted himself, but if he stopped training then it would leave time for his thoughts to wander and that was something he didn't want.
"Alright Alright...we can take the rest of the night off"
A smile crept over his beak while the other three got up and separated off into different areas to rest. Two of the three taking their bunk, Skipper seized the moment and crawled up the ladder and plopped on the stoney platform. His royal eyes glanced over at the lemur's habitat and winced. Even after this week he still cant seem to form a way to say anything to Julien again.
Being alone out here like he was soothing yet uncomfortable at the same time.
"Skipper, do you mind..?" the voice startled him, he turned to where the voice was coming from. Kowalski, the uneasy one shook his head and flashed grin.
"Of course not Kowalski, have a seat"
Kowalski sat down next his leader and began to stare off into space. It was awkward silence that was left between them. The taller one cleared his throat and turned his head to his shorter leader.
"I've been noticing there has been an uneasy gloom that has come over the zoo lately.."
"Really?"
He raised his eyebrows in surprise "You haven't?"
"Nope," Skipper shrugged looking back at an entertained Kowalski.
A flipper came to the underside of the taller one's beak, rubbing it thoughtfully. The worried feeling arose within his stomach watching Kowalski think deeply, even pulling out his notepad and scribbling in it.
"Why don't we go see the lemurs, maybe Julien is the reason that everything is so down. As bothersome as he is, it seems that if he is happy the whole world is happy and same with ssorrow.."
Skipper didn't want to admit it, but he was right. Everything seemed so down in the zoo, and the last five nights of nothing but blues and slow songs made it even more obvious that something needed to be said. He cursed under his breath and stood up.
"I'll do something about it.."
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His members were asleep, and he was pretty sure no one would be up at this time..aside Julien, hopefully. He poked his head out of the bunk and crawled out to the ladder and stepped out. There was a faint twilight aura that came about through the zoo from the postlights. Skipper could feel his stomach ache, he still had no idea what he was going to say to Julien..he needed to say something though..anything. This was the one thing Skipper had a weakpoint for, emotion.
Eventually, he made it over to the lemur habitat and jumped up on the ledge.
Julien was still slumped over by the radio, listening to some lame Avril Lavigne song. The lemur noticed the penguin standing there, a sting of both happiness and pain tingled through his body as he stood up.
He moved his way over slowly and jumped up on the edge squatting next to the one that caused him such hurt.
"Yes Skipper?" Julien didn't even give the flippered one the satisfaction of his usual 'Hello Neighbor'. Skipper looked down at his feet shuffling them.
"I need uh...to talk to you.." he muttered almost under his breath, but Julien acknowledged it and hopped the other side and walked alongside Skipper to the usual spot where him and his team-mates would usually play capture the flag. The lemur rested up against the base of the tree and looked up at Skipper.
Skipper was a wreck, obviously wasn't ready for any of this. He didn't want to know Julien's reason for liking him, but hopefully it'd make him feel better. The white of his face flushed red.
"Julien..I want you uhm..to tell me..why you like me.." his voice was low as he turned an eye to the hopeless lemur.
A scowl crossed his face and stood up looking at the penguin, for some reason a raging fire burned in the pit of his stomach at the question he was asked.
"Why do YOU care?" Julien snapped, crossing his arms over his chest. Skipper winced and hung his head, he knew running like he did would come back to haunt him.
"You left right as I confessed the feelings which I kept inside of me.." that feeling returned, his eyes began to sting with tears while that night was put on repeat in his head.
"I know..I know.."
He wiped the pools that started in the corners of his eyes. The regretful penguin looked up and rubbed his flipper uncomfortably, he hated being wrong..taking responsibility was something he had to do even if he didn't like it.
"I really am...sorry," Julien didn't seem too convinced, the resentful fire in his stomach still churned back and forth.
"Your just saying that so I stop being gloomy.."
"No no..really, ring tai- er..Julien..it was wrong of me to leave you like I did. I couldn't think of anything but running...I am sorry"
After the more sincere plea doused the anger that arose within the lemur. Julien got to his knees so he was better leveled with the penguin. Skipper raised his head and looked into the other's eyes, there was a deep feeling of want that wallowed within the glossy pupils.
It felt like an eternity passed while they stared into each others eyes. The king stepped back some and rubbed his eyes to rid the tears.
"Well..your...different from me.." he started and sat back on the ground keeping his eyes to the grass below him. Julien cracked a smile that wouldn't go away.
"You and I argue like no other two animals in the zoo,"
Thinking about it now, he really didn't know why he liked him..he just did.
"That's not true, Marlene and I-"
"I don't know why I like you..Skipper, you make me feel happier than anyone..your vibes connect with mine..and your just as handsome as me,"
Skipper blushed, compliments weren't something he was good at accepting. For once, Julien didn't seem like a completely rude guy. Sensitivity and love can to that to a person, he assumed. His thoughts started to clear up, Skipper wasn't feeling as stressed with the situation.
"T-thank you.." Julien looked up at the other and crawled up close to him, muzzle to beak as they have before. The penguin hesitated and pulled back, he grabbed one of his flippers and looked at him not moving an inch.
"Skipper..do you like me..too?"
He could feel himself start to sweat. There wasn't much time that he could wait out his answer. He really didn't know if he liked Julien..and yet he had to make him feel better.
Damn it..I need to say something
Skipper's throat was dry and tried clearing it out, a long sigh came from him as he tried to calm down.
"Julien..I don't know if I like you or not..I mean..I have never liked guys before,"
He recoiled at the reply, the long tail wrapping around his waist in a way of comfort and blocking out anything that may hurt him more.
"But..I'm willing to take you out one night..if it'll make you feel better.."
A compromise, one of the best things he could do in a situation such as this..right? Maybe this would make him feel better. Julien's eyes sparkled before he wrapped his arms around the shorter penguin.
"Not what I wanted but it'll do.." He knew that going out on a date with him would be better than nothing..
Skipper wrapped his arms around the other shyly and returned his affection. Within their hug there was a feeling of weight lifted off both their shoulders. It felt nice being in Skipper's arms, like he had imagined countless times in the past. Julien didn't want to let go, another smile crept over his maw.
"R-ringtail.."
"hmn..?"
"We should uh..get to sleep.."
Julien let out a faint laugh and let go of the more timid seeming male, his paws propped up on his hips.
"Alright then, tomorrow night, don't be forgetting now" He warned Skipper before walking back to his habitat.
Skipper stood there quietly for a moment trying to figure out what just happened. He needs to stop making things go so quick. Everything should be okay tomorrow, no, not should..will. The leader assured himself before belly sliding back to HQ and creeping back into his bunk.
Just a date..nothing more.
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Julien finally made it back to the lemur exhibit and hopped up on the stone wall giving a few care-free spinning moves. He felt so light now that the heavy depression was eased off his shoulders. Though, now he had to be quiet. Maurice was actually asleep tonight, he didn't want to be waking up his worried adviser.
The Lemur King had never noticed,, Maurice really has been there for him this whole time..through thick and thin. He would stand by, some regret tingled though his tail but took little thought to it.
He was pretty tired after expelling all the feelings he had for Skipper, once he slipped into his throne Julien cocked his head to the sky.
"Thank you Sky Spirits.."
