Impulse

Chapter 6: Untouchable

Kowalski went over each situation in his head. All the possibilities that each option could lead to. He'd thought about just out right telling Rico, but no matter how many times he went over them, no words sounded right for this situation.

Besides… he was certain he'd only end up horribly embarrassing himself, stumbling over his own words.

He considered a more traditional form of courting. That idea, of course, was quickly tossed out the window the moment he thought of handing a bouquet of flowers to the manic penguin. Ever possible reaction he went through in his mind ended with Rico hitting him over the head with something whether it be the flowers, a fish, or a hammer.

Suggestive pick up lines or subtle flirting? Rico would either laugh at him or completely miss it.

So what was he supposed to do? It wasn't as if he could just… walk up to him and do something right?

Kowalski stopped himself at the sudden, frustrated thought. That was Rico had been doing this entire time. Just acting. As far as he could tell, his teammate didn't consider the possibilities, didn't go over everything that could go wrong. It was almost like the time they'd been… uh… 'attacked' by those chameleons. The moment he stopped thinking for a while…

Taking a deep breath, Kowalski stood up. This wasn't a battle he was going to lose.

-

Rico furrowed his brows in thought. He stared down at his game of solitaire, letting out a frustrated sound when he realized he couldn't make any moves. Growling, he was about to regurgitate a small explosive on the game when he felt a flipper rest on his back.

Blinking, he turned his eyes to see Kowalski. The taller penguin took his card, setting it down, and Rico watched in amazement as he went through the motions of the game until the cards were all placed nicely in four little stacks, kings on top.

Brainy bastard.

He gave a soft grunt and Kowalski chuckled. The weapons expert was pleasantly surprised when he felt the nudge of the other's beak against his neck; the first time the taller penguin had initiated such a contact. He turned his head, returning the nuzzle.

Kowalski took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves as he moved closer into his teammate's personal space. He nudged Rico back, touching their breaks together.

So far so good, Kowalski realized. He didn't feel any objects driving through his skull, or explosions bursting him into tiny pieces. So then… are we…?

Rico released a disappointed whimper as Kowalski pulled back again. He tried to lean closer, but the taller penguin pressed a flipper to his chest, lightly holding him back. 'I just… want to know…" Well, it wouldn't be him if he stopped thinking the entire time. "Are we-?"

"Soldiers, alert!"

Both jumped as they heard their leaders voice from above the headquarters. Kowalski turned his eyes to the mute penguin, conflicted for a moment. He wanted so badly to just ignore it this one time, to press further… but he knew that if he did that Skipper would have both of their heads.

He leaned in, just touching his beak to Rico's once more before hurrying up the ladder. Rico sat for a moment, frustrated with the team leader, who always seemed to choose the wrong times to call them, and curious to hear what Kowalski wanted to ask.

Grumbling, he stood up and started after the strategies expert.

-

Kowalski couldn't explain the feeling. Just suddenly, after that moment, he couldn't face Rico, not when they were alone. He'd lost the courage he'd worked so hard to build up, afraid of what Rico might say… or rather do, seeing as he never really said anything.

For the most part, he stuck around Skipper, figuring that not even Rico would be so bold as to try and confront the problem in front of the team leader.

Kowalski had never been so wrong.

"I'm telling you, Private, it's 'platypi'!"

"No, Skippa', I really, really think it's 'platypuses'."

The intellectual sat back with an amused smile on his face, watching his teammates struggle with the constant inconsistencies of the English language. It was kind of cruel when you thought about it too much.

"Well then what about octopus?"

"… Octopuses?"

Skipper groaned in frustration, finally turning his eyes to the smartest of the group. "Alright Kowalski, we give. Help us out here."

"I'm afraid Private's right Skipper," Kowalski responded, putting on a cocky little grin, knowing they had to turn to him for help. "The plural of platypus is 'platypuses'. As for octopus, any of several terms may be used, namely 'octopuses', 'octopi' or 'octopodes'-!" He cut off in surprise as he felt a body press against his back and a pair of flippers slide around him.

"R-Rico?!" he asked, alarmed. He glanced up, his face burning with embarrassment as he saw the surprise in the others' expressions as well. Kowalski had never seen Skipper so flustered, obviously not sure of what to make of the situation, and not sure of how to react.

Rico didn't even bother with them, turning his head to nuzzle the taller penguin's neck in a way that was more than just affectionate.

"Rico-" the leader started, but a tap on the shoulder from Private stopped him. "What?"

"M-Maybe we should check some Zoobooks? To make sure Kowalski's right?"

"What?" Skipper repeated. "Private-!"

He was grabbed by the flipper and quickly dragged out, leaving poor Kowalski to face the situation. "R-Rico…" he repeated, trying to find words.

The hefty penguin grunted, shifting so that he was in front of his teammate. Kowalski stood, hoping to avoid from getting trapped by the other, but it was no use. Rico simply pushed him back into the wall. Judging by the glare he had earned from the shorter penguin, Kowalski saw that Rico obviously wasn't pleased with how he'd been handling this.

He felt a little wave of guilt. I suppose I haven't been very fair here… "Look, I was just…" Kowalski trailed off, frowning under Rico's hard gaze. Is he actually… hurt? It was such a strange concept, to think of the weapons expert as anything less than untouchable. Then again, the scar that crossed over the corner of the shorter penguin's beak reminded him that it was possible, even if that was physical, while this was more emotional.

"I'm…" he paused, swallowing thickly, "Sorry…"

For a moment, Rico held the glare, but soon (and to Kowalski's delight), it faded. He leaned in again, touching their beaks together before nuzzling against him. Kowalski's flippers moved to wrap around him.

Perhaps it was best to ignore the questions of what this was and just go with it.