To call the mood in the HQ tense would be quite an understatement. Private sat in front of the telly, trying to watch the Lunacorns, but the little penguin couldn't concentrate, the earlier conversation with Skipper kept running through his head. "Stop it!" He shouted aloud, smacking his head angrily. Skipper looked up from his mission files questioningly , even Rico looked up from his dolly.
Stop looking at me! Just leave me alone! Gah! "I'm going to bed" Private announced lamely, climbing into his bunk.
"No supper?" Rico questioned.
"No Rico, I'm not feeling well, and I'm not very hungry." Private replied, and in fact is wasn't a lie, the smallest penguin was indeed feeling horrible. He focused on a crack in the concrete, feeling Skippers eyes on him, burning a hole straight through to his heart. No. He clenched his flipper. Your stronger than this, its Skipper that should apologize, I did nothing wrong! He felt his foot twitch, itching to go running back. No! Don't you dare go running back to Skipper like the pathetic weakling that you are, stand your ground. He sighed, sick of battling with himself and used a sheer amount of willpower he didn't know he possessed to walk by his leader to the hatch.
He felt Skipper still watching him and wasn't surprised when he heard the older clear his throat and ask "Where are you going?"
"For a walk" Private said bluntly, feeling a sense of freedom once he was away from the other penguin's steely gaze. He even went so far as to roll his eyes and mutter "What a control freak, as if he needs to know where I am all the time, I'm not a little kid, I'm pretty sure I can handle going for a walk by myself."
He spotted a vending machine and quickly checked underneath for spare change. Bingo! He pulled out a penny, rolling it around on his flipper. One little coin, yet so much depends on it. Its so light, one little toss...it should feel heavier, more of a burden.. He felt himself begin to doubt his choice and became angry. But I already made my decision, I can't change my mind now, and I wont! Its for the best...it will help Skipper be happy, even if Skipper is kind of being jerk.
He saw the sun beginning to set and gathered the coin in his flippers, even snatching a few more just in case. He waddled back to HQ, slipping the coins under his pillow for safe keeping. He whipped around guiltily when he heard Skipper announce lights out. He slid into his bunk, hearing Skipper pause at the younger's bed, as if to say something, but he sighed and climbed into his own bunk. Tomorrow will be the day, tomorrow, and I wont let myself chicken out. He worriedly clutched the penny in his flipper, until he drifted off to sleep.
Too soon Private woke up. He glanced down at the penny in his flipper, then looked to the leader who was already out and about, tiredly stirring his coffee. Skipper looked at him and Private carefully averted his gaze. He heard Kowalski and Rico stir and decided it was safe to get up. He slipped the coin back under his pillow, patting it protectively.
"What's on the agenda for today sir?" Kowalski asked, joining the shorter at the table. Private nibbled on a fish nervously, his eyes flicking back to his pillow every few seconds.
"Well, I'm afraid if we wait any longer Alice is going to notice the missing fruit from the storage building the lemurs are taking. To the lemur habitat boys!" They belly slid to the lemur habitat, Private trudging behind.
"Private, pick up the pace" Skipper said sternly.
'Yes sir' Private replied, but knowing that he wouldn't be able to concentrate on this mission.
"Why hello silly penguins" King Julian greeted them "Are you here to boogie oogie with your king?"
"Ah let me think, no!" Skipper shouted angrily. "We just want you to give back the fruit you stole Ringtail"
"If by stole, you mean took what was rightfully mine because I am the king, then yes, I did and you cannot have them back"
"Ringtail" Skippers eye twitched "Do you want to compromise our entire mission? If Alice discovers its missing...oh why am i explaining it to you of all people? Okay team confiscate those mangos! Rico, if Ringtail has any problems with that you know what to do" Rico smiled his creepy smile and the other penguins got to work.
"What? But my mangos" Julian complained. Rico took a steep towards him and the lemur looked frightened. " Actually, I didn't like those mangos anyway, take them away"
Skipper rolled his eyes, dumping the stupid fruit in a pile by the storage building. Private was the last to show up, not making eye contact with anybody, especially not Skipper.
Skipper gave him a long look before addressing the team. " Good job boys lets head back to HQ"
When they arrived back at their home, Kowalski of course, disappeared in his lab, Private followed him, wanting to say goodbye.
He stood behind the taller stupidly. What do I say? How do I say goodbye to my team mates? I can't say anything, they might figure it out and try and stop me He left the lab without making a sound, Kowalski oblivious of the younger's brief presence.
He looked over at Skipper desperately. I can't do this with him angry at me, but its not my fault! I wont apologize, I shouldn't have to. He wanted to go over and hug him, never letting go. I never thought it would be easy, so I should stop being a wimp, man up, think monster trucks.
"Private?" Skipper asked, waving his flipper in front of the younger's face.
Private blushed at being caught in la la land. He probably thinks I was staring at him. "Sorry Skippah" He quickly turned and walked away, waiting for Skipper to loose interest so he could sneak away.
Skipper took a last glance at the younger before turning on the TV. I overreacted. Obviously. I should go say sorry, I was a jerk and that's not okay, and yeah, I even kind of miss him. Its not his fault, he's always looking out for other people and forgetting about himself.
While Skipper sat, dealing with his thoughts, Private ran to his bunk, quickly grabbing a coin and climbed out of HQ, feeling tears threatening again. He stood at the top of the hatch, looking down at what he was leaving behind. He hurriedly stepped back and moved towards the fountain, knowing the longer he waited the harder it would be.
Skipper sighed, his guilty conscience pestering him something awful. He stood, walked over to the younger's bunk and started his speech. "Look Private, I'm sorry, I overreacted and-" He opened his eyes to find an empty bunk. "What the deuce? Where's Private?"
Rico looked up and shrugged his shoulders. "dunno kipper" He mumbled.
"Kowalski? you know where Private is?" He asked his second in command, becoming more and more concerned as each second ticked by.
Kowalski appeared eager. "This is a great time to try out my new invention-"
"No! your stupid inventions sure as heck won't help" Skipper growled, slamming the lab door.
He noticed a glint of something shiny under Privates pillow and walked over. He lifted up the pillow curiously and gasped. "Oh god" He whispered. The little pile of coins was like a beacon light, shouting at him what had happened. He dropped the pillow hurriedly on the floor, and sprinted out of the HQ, heading towards the fountain and praying he was in time.
Private looked at the coin inspecting it, as he sat by the fountain, tears streaming down his face and making a puddle on the ground. He didn't notice his leader until he was nearly on top of him and had no time to react.
"Private no!" Skipper shouted, tackling the younger to the ground. The force caused Private to fall backwards and the penny to fall from his grasp. "NO!" Skipper reached out to catch it, but even he wasn't quick enough. They both watched as it landed on the side and then fell into the water.
"Private! How could you disobey an order!" Skipper shouted angrily.
Private clung to him desperately. "I'm sorry Skippah, I-"
Private was cut off as the older was wrenched form his grasp and everything became black. Then he was falling, falling, falling.