Title: Asserting Dominance
Summary: Julien just wants to impress his possible boyfriend.
Author's Note: With a longer, angstier fic potentially on its tail, here's a lighthearted appetizer! This little story is self contained, but stay tuned for more standalone shorts added to this as "chapters". In case anyone wonders, I drew the cover image ;p
"I think I need to show Skipper that I am the alpha male," Julien says. "Then he will be respecting me."
Maurice looks up from napping on the lounge chair. "What? Whatever you're thinking, it's a bad idea."
Julien scoffs. "I don't see you having any ideas."
He walks over and shows Maurice his book. On the cover it says How to Assert your Dominance in the Pack with a growling wolf on the cover. Maurice frowns.
He remarks, "I don't think you're the intended audience."
"Assertiveness is for everyone, Maurice!" Julien pats him on the head. "Even a servile aye-aye such as yourself could learn a thing."
Maurice grumbles. He opens the book to the page Julien left off. He grimaces at a picture of a wolf standing with his head high and arms out like a 'T'. Another wolf cowers in front of him. He snaps the book closed. "I'll pass. You're just going to make him mad, you know. Since when do you take advice from books anyway?"
Julien takes the book back and tosses it aside. He's already read it front to back a few times. This new reading kick has been enjoyable. "I am finding that bookworming is an occupying hobby to keep from being bored."
"Imagine that. Reading will rot your eyes you know... give you disturbing, nuanced ideas! You should definitely stop."
"You're right Maurice! I should never stop reading all the times. It's great!"
Maurice smiles, clearly changing his mind to agree with Julien. He returns to his nap. No matter, Julien has business to be attending. He has to find Skipper. If he's going to make Skipper his mate, he has to show him he can be an ample provider. That's what the book said. He leaves the habitat and scans the area. He eventually finds Skipper near the gift shop. They are fixing up their car.
Julien asks, "Engine-y troubles, penguins?"
Skipper perks up. "Ringtail! How's it going?"
He's made some progress. Skipper has been more friendly later since Julien actually listens to him sometimes. He still can't believe they've been dating, but it has yet to get serious. It's worrying. If Skipper is keeping this too casual, it would be too easy for him to slip through Julien's fingers. He wants to hold on tighter, but he doesn't want to scare him away, like he was doing before.
"Oh you know," Julien says. "I am being a king in my kingdom. Did you know how much fun reading is?"
"I can't read," Skipper replies.
"That is being too bad. Maybe I can be teaching you."
Rico tosses Skipper a tool which he uses to do something to the wheel. He looks handsome while working. Julien takes a hesitant step forward. Now that he's here, he's having second thoughts. What if Maurice was right? He takes a deep breath. Julien nabs the tool from him. He glares.
"Ringtail... I'm warning you..."
"There is no needing of the warnings, I can be doing it!"
Skipper wraps his flipper around the tool and tugs. Julien doesn't let go.
"No. You don't know what you're doing you'll just get hurt."
Julien gives the tool his own firm tug. "I am being a manly guy just like you, I don't need to be treated with delicacy."
"That isn't what it's about. I just don't want you to hurt yourself," Skipper pleads. "Or anyone else. You'll regret it."
"You will be regretting it if you don't let go!" Julien tugs again, but Skipper holds fast, still glaring at him. "I want to be proving to you I am worthy."
"Worthy of what? You don't need to prove anything to me," Skipper says.
The other penguins watch this exchange quietly and with wide eyes. Thankfully, they aren't trying to get involved yet. It should just be between him and Skipper. He has to show he can be alpha and provider. Julien pushes on his head with the heel of his hand. Taken off guard, Skipper's grip slips off the tool. He stumbles back into the side of the car, which rocks slightly from the force. Skipper growls. He kicks the tool out of Julien's hand, and it lands somewhere in the vicinity. It's time to up his game. Skipper makes to go after the tool, but Julien moves in front of him.
Skipper asks, "What is your problem today? We've been getting along so well, why do you want to ruin it?"
"That is not what I'm trying to do," Julien insists. He moves in front of Skipper again when he tries to dart by. "I am showing you I'm not a pushover. I won't be submitting to anyone."
"That - you - you do that all the time!"
Julien gasps. "I am not submitting to peoples all the times."
Skipper rolls his eyes. "I meant you're self-assured and pushy."
Skipper tries once more to get past him. Julien flings out his arms, stretching them out like the picture in the book. He hovers over Skipper in threat. Skipper drops his head into his flipper and groans. Julien stands tall, back straight and feet planted firm. He gazes down his nose at Skipper.
Skipper clenches his flippers and gives a cry of frustration. Does that mean Julien is doing it wrong? Skipper turns to him and advances. His expression makes Julien nervous, but he holds his ground.
"Julien, I don't know what you're trying to prove, but this is just ridiculous," Skipper says.
He presses his chest to Julien's abdomen and stares him in the eyes unwavering. Julien failed. Skipper isn't submitting to his iron will. It does make his stomach flutter to have Skipper pressed against him in this manner. It's nice. Suddenly Skipper leaps from the ground and plants his feet on Julien's front. He can feel his talons digging into his fur. He climbs higher until his beak almost touches Julien's muzzle. His eyes are so captivating, and it's always startling how they look dark ocean blue from a distance, yet ice blue up close. Julien's arms momentarily flail in circles as he struggles to keep his balance with Skipper's weight on him.
He can't. His legs give out, and Skipper shoves him flat to the ground. He bows over Julien's head. "You don't know how to work with that tool. You can hand me things if you want, and I can find you something to do with your hands that isn't dangerous. Comprende?"
"I - I - yes, okay. I can be helping though?"
"Sure."
Skipper's head jerks, and for a moment the tip of his beak brushes against Julien's lips. Julien freezes. He doesn't know what that means. Was it an accident? Is Skipper more interested than he thought? Skipper hops off him, to the side, dismissing Julien from the chance to try and deepen the kiss. He offers his flipper and helps Julien stand.
Skipper says, "You just have to ask. You don't have to grab things and... whatever that was you were doing with your arms before."
Julien lowers his head. "I just wanted to be showing I am alpha so that you will respect me as a leader too."
Skipper rubs the top of his beak, a smile twitching on his features. Then, he laughs.
"You've got the wrong idea. You call me bossy sometimes but being an alpha as you put it, isn't just about bossing others around and getting in the way. It's about inspiring your team and taking decisive action. You have to make difficult choices but stick to your moral code." Skipper pauses in thought before going on, "It's about... being a friend when you need to and a leader when you don't, it's about being strong but also letting yourself be vulnerable."
"You've got plenty of confidence and leadership skills, Ringtail, you don't have to prove that to me," Skipper informs him, tone steely yet patient. "There's certainly a physical aspect to it, but there are times when it's not appropriate."
Skipper is still holding his hand. Julien hangs on his words, jaw dropping a little. Paying little mind to their audience, Skipper gives Julien's hand a quick kiss. Julien cranes his neck. The other three penguins are watching them with undisguised curiosity. He gives them a little wave.
Skipper pulls Julien down and whispers, "I know what you're capable of, and I respect your style, unorthodox though it is. I see you as my equal. Next time you want to know what I think about you, just ask."
"Okay, then, am I being equal enough for you to consider as the boy who is more than a friend?"
Skipper chuckles. He allows his beak to bump Julien's nose. "I do."
Soft gasps and exclamations from the others are ignored as Julien cups Skipper's face. This time, it's not a mere brush, rather Julien is able to give a deep physical expression of his affection. The kissing lasts long enough for Kowalski to grumble, "Really, in front of my car? Can't they get a room?"
"They're not doing anything bad," Private argues.
Rico agrees, "Uh-huh. Seen worse."
Skipper eyes the car and says, "You boys can manage without me, sí?"
"Uh, actually you -" Kowalski reaches in his direction. Skipper turns away from him.
"Muy bien!" Skipper grasps Julien's hand and swings it between them. He inquires, "So your place or mine? We should get out of their feathers so they get back to work and stop wasting time gawking at us."
Following a light offended squeak, Kowalski protests, "But Skipper, what about the -"
Julien can't help himself, he does a little dance. "We can be snogging in your HQ? It is being a dream of mine."
"Thought you'd never ask."
Somewhere behind them, Kowalski questions in an incredulous tone, "Where did he get the word snogging? And in the sanctity of our base? I never!"
"What's his problem," Julien asks Skipper. He smiles.
"No idea."
There's a guilty cough and then Private mutters, "I may have told Julien yesterday that he could get a good snog with Skipper, if he was more assertive."
"You did what?! Why were you even - how did you get on that topic?!"
"I'm not a child! Maybe he just respects my insight."
The ensuing shouts disappear as Skipper shuts the hatch, plunging he and Julien into much needed privacy.