I know it's been a while since the first Normal was published, so I wanted to go ahead and give a reminder that these fics are slightly canon-divergent in the fact that animals can speak to humans, but the "code" prohibits them from doing so. Like I mentioned in my first fic, the change was necessary to allow these stories to work, but of course other than that, I try to stay true to canon material in the PoM/Madagascar movie-verse.

Chapter 3: Bad Memory Lane

The limo ride to the Central Park Zoo was an awfully quiet one. The sheer contrast of previous limo rides I've had with Dave to pledge drives might as well be compared to night and day. There were no giddy chuckles, prior discussion of plans—nothing. I absolutely saw this coming though. To say I didn't would be an outright lie, since I knew good and well how much Dave probably felt about this place. But what was I supposed to say? I had already asked him about this at dinner the night prior, but he kept justifying it.

With every passing moment I found myself checking back on him with a subtle side-stare, seeing only each time how absolutely still and contemplative he was. Occasionally I'd get a pit feeling in my chest, the kind of feeling you'd get of empathetic pain from watching someone get hurt, emotionally or physically.

My imagination started going off, placing myself in what I imagined what must've been his life there… his life in the Central Park Zoo. To be loved by many, and then none at all? To be tossed away so quickly without any foresight? Any gratitude for your prior presence? No one wondering where you went off to? Oh shit, that was awful. Instead of becoming sadder just thinking about it, I started getting angry. It was a soft anger, the kind I could keep down and hidden well. This was my driving point that finally broke me from my own thoughts about what it could have been like for Dave, and back to him, here in the present with me.

I found my hand had gently placed itself on top of his that had been set on the seat between us. The feeling of his gloved 'hand' was cold—soft, as usual, but it was also very still. My eyes slowly lifted from the placement of my hand on top of his, my ring picking up glows as the car passed from under trees and reflected sunlight. When I finally looked at his face, I could see it was filled with contemplation, slightly absent from my touch, but the longer I held it I finally saw his eyes drifting from its mindless stare at the limos interior, and to me.

"We'll be out of this shitty place faster than you know it," I tried encouraging him, growing serious to reflect his own feelings. "In-n-out; like the burger joint." I smiled sheepishly at my own joke, this in itself causing him to reflect a grin back at me.

"You're certainly right!" Dave responded, his chipper voice returning—a sudden shift from the silence in the limo. "And besides, we don't have to worry about Skipper and his trio of delinquents. At least that place is rid of them."

"Yeah!" I encouraged. They were traveling with the circus touring North America, now with their friends still, last I heard. Seemed life at the Central Park Zoo was very much left behind by everyone that had once lived there. I was secretly beginning to hope that with all the absence of the zoos old residents, Dave's painful memories would be dulled.

I hoped, at least.

The limo slowed down then, a slight turn sending my attention at Dave to shift towards the windows. The parking lot of the zoo was absolutely packed; the line itself for entry mirrored the dense parking lot. Even with the mere arrival of our limo into the lot, and our slow procession up to the entrance, a wave of cheers immediately met my ears.

"The turnout is incredible!" Dave exclaimed, propping himself then against the door to look out the window. Whatever was left of his meekness was now exchanged for excitement. I watched as he used this attention fuel to pick himself up, soon setting the mood as he prepared to open the car doors by placing his hand on the door handle. Before he did open the door, he took a deep breath, seemingly exhaling his next series of words in the same lung full of air. "Here we go, dearest! Our legions of adoring fans await!"

"Don't you mean your fans," I said, attempting to be as supportive as I could.

"No, I meant what I said," Dave replied, winking at me.

For some reason I tensed up at this, a lightning bolt shooting into my stomach like Thor himself was attacking my digestive system. I tried blinking a few times to try and settle myself back into reality. I have no idea why, but even though I had known Dave for a while now, every time he did that—that something flirty thing, was so… weird. Not in a bad way though. Just the fact that, you know… he was an octopus. Ugh! I don't know. I felt like my brain was constantly trying to justify and comprehend that when he was in his Dr. Brine disguise. I wonder if there would ever be a day I'd have the courage to walk up to my—I don't know—freaking mother and say, 'Hey Mom, look! I'm like Scarlet! My fiancé is actuality an octopus!'

Dave opened the door then upon the cars stopping point, the sound of the mass cluster of collective voices and cheers becoming much louder now. When Dave sat up out of the car, the volume just got cranked higher, and when I followed out after him, more so.

"Yeah! It's the Brines'!" I heard a guy yell in the back. An air horn went off, too.

Dave got into deceit mode instantly, although I'm sure his reaction to the attention was as honest as he could get. He started doing his routine of doing a few twirls, and then suddenly shifted that in to a moonwalk. This only made the crowd loose it even more, which at that point I wouldn't be surprised if the sound could be compared to a freaking jet engine.

"I am so glad to see you all here!" Dave cheered outward, projecting his voice rather well despite the overwhelming crowd. "Please—please continue to remain in line as I head forward to prepare the pledge drive booths!"

More cheers. Some people in the front were literally in tears of joy as we made our way past them and towards the entrance. Here, a couple of zoo staff members met us, excited just like the rest of the bunch.

"We have everything setup for you, Dr. Brine!" one staff member said. "We will not be officially opening the gate doors until you give us the word. People will be escorted inside once everything is ready."

"Oh, which reminds me!" another began, this one looking like an intern, obvious by the sight of a pin with New York University's logo and name on his shirt. "I have been told to inform you by my manager that we'd love to offer you a tour of the zoo whenever you are finished for the day. It'll be after closing, so we figured it would be a good opportunity to show you the exhibits when the attendees are gone."

I felt a pause. An incredibly short pause, but a pause, nonetheless. Dave managed to spit out another reply, despite this, saying, "Ah, how lovely! I'd be more than happy to have a look around your establishment."

"Oh, are you sure we have… the time, Octavius?" I asked out of caution. Looking up at him he still looked happy, but my ever growing awareness of the situation was creating an environment for me where I felt like I was walking around eggshells. I knew Dave wouldn't have a full blown breakdown or anything, especially in front of these people, but still.

"Nay!" Dave said, clasping his hands together for effect, which seemed to work on making the staff smile even bigger at us from their invitation being accepted. "Nothing means more to me than to support our zoos."

"I'm so glad to hear, Dr. Brine!" the intern chimed happily. "We'd love it if you could pose for a few pictures, too. For our website? We figured a good shot with you and your fiancée next to the penguins would be suiting considering everything you've tried to do for them!"

Dave's eye twitched, very momentarily. I felt my hairs stand on end on my neck, tense as I glanced back and forth between him and the zoo staff. The good thing though was nobody here caught that Dave had a bad reaction to it, because within a few seconds the staff started walking ahead, beginning to escort us through the gates and into the zoo.

Leaving behind the crowd made things settle a little bit, my mind even breaking momentarily from the craziness beyond and to the anticipated tranquil pre-opening zoo atmosphere itself. I could hear some animals in the distance chatter, although while I normally would have heard the simple sounds of animal morning calls and songs, I instead heard them. Actually heard them. It was so strange that I found my eyes darting around the zoo staff in front of us again to check if they were hearing what I heard, but when I found they weren't fazed by the monkeys screaming "POOP PIES FOR BREAKFAST, EUSTACE!", proceeded by a smacking sound, then a terrified scream, I began to realize how blissfully unaware they were. Like were they still hearing just monkey coos or something? Or were they just that dense to reality? I knew animals had a code thing going on, but you'd think a slipup like this would make them turn their heads, but no.

Once the upcoming visual of the pledge drive setup came into view, I fell out of my thoughts again and started focusing on the present. However, this wasn't necessarily a good thing either, because we were setup right beside the penguin exhibits.

"Here we are Dr. Brine!" one of the staff said again, extending their hand out towards the long table and booth. "Take your time as you get situated and we'll prepare for the guest. Just let us know."

"For sure," Dave said, absolutely seething at that point. I didn't know Dave was still this mad about the penguins, but that simple thought in of itself was absolutely cutting the actual problem short. As soon as the staff left back to the front, I placed myself in front of Dave, oh so ever so cautiously.

"Dave, do you need sit down? Or, I don't know, get an umbrella or something so I can shield the penguins so you don't have to look at them?"

"It's not just the penguins…" Dave started to admit, his voice low as his eyes practically glistened from becoming overwhelmed with emotion. The sound of a soft pat of water was hitting the glass.

"What is it?" I asked, being persistent. My mind was shooting through all sorts of problems that could be wrong with the exhibit, but it was all wrong. Nothing I could think of was the reason.

"That tank," Dave began, "used to be mine."

My eyes got big, realization hitting me. I found myself dumbfounded for the longest time, but when Dave finally looked towards me, as if in a way to reach out in order to cling to something—anything, I started talking again.

"Dave… wow I am so sorry," I said. "I can't believe this. I can't believe those idiots would do this!"

"It's not their fault," Dave replied, rather bitterly. "They don't know any better, it seems."

"What do you mean they don't know any better?!" I gasped out, suddenly getting mad again from his statement. "Of course they know better! Shitholes!"

"I mean they don't know any better because they literally don't see it," Dave continued, calm as opposed to my irritability for this. "Animals come and go. When the penguins came, they got the big tank because they're cute. Me?" He paused again, looking towards the ground. "I'm just an octopus. Who wants an old octopus, right?"

"I want an old octopus, that's who!" I fussed, but when the sentence had its chance to settle between us Dave's eyes shifted quickly from the concrete and back up to me, his 'arms' behind his back, making him seem poised. The only thing that no longer could retain this poise was his expression, which again carried upon it a smirk only Dave himself could give.

"Hmmm," he hummed.

What the hell!? I thought then and there, but it wasn't because I was mad anymore. He was doing it—again! I found that my face had grown incredibly hot, even the chilled autumn New York air failing at quelling the literal sauna that was overwhelming my poor cheeks. "Okay Dave, so whenever you're ready!" I said, attempting to get back to business. I had such a hard time getting a hold of myself when he did that.

. . . . . . .

"Goodbye Dr. Brine! It was so nice meeting you! Good luck on your research!" The last donator finally waved us goodbye and began walking down the walkways of the zoo, soon disappearing into the many labyrinths of exhibits towards the exit. With the last one gone, that same stillness returned to us stationed near the penguin exhibit, leaving me to take a moment to myself to register how I was feeling.

The day had come and gone quicker than I had imagined, but the toll the pledge driving took on my energy levels had been essentially dumped to a big fat zero. In my exhausted state, I had very briefly forgotten that we had one more thing to do after all this: get a tour of the zoo. I felt that tinge of dread fill me again, both as means of my tiredness yelling at me to stop and head home to sleep, but in another way anticipating the emotional rollercoaster I was bound to go on with Dave.

I had to take in a deep breath and sigh when I saw the staff approaching again, this time with them what looked to be one of the zoos managers, the intern as well now carrying a decent sized camera for the shoot.

"I'm so happy to hear of your success today, Dr. Brine!" the manager spoke aloud as he walked up to our now empty booths. "Are you and your fiancée ready to see the exhibits?"

"Yes," Dave said, his attempt at professionalism convincing to the untrained eye, but I knew better.

Oh shit here we go, I thought. I tried looking on the bright side, though: maybe all the cute animals were asleep. The penguin exhibit next to us did in fact cause some distractions, but the distractions were usually enticing to the donators after they gave us money, so it wasn't too bad, I guess? Whatever! I might be thinking of the bright side, but I figured Dave was practically at the peak of internal rage by now.

"While you were doing your pledge drive, we took a few pictures of you guys in action," the manager started to explain, "but we'd love to go ahead and get a shot now with everyone gone. Just the two of you, if that's okay?"

I looked awkwardly over at Dave, trying to read his expression. It was tamed, which was good, but a very light spark in his eyes, ones of flames if he were a freaking anime character or something, were metaphorically present there.

"Yes! That's fine!" Dave said, throwing his arms in the air in exasperation. I felt like Dave would most certainly loose it then and there, because even the group of zoo staff had grown wide eyes for a moment after Dave's outburst. Like he always did, nonetheless, Dave recovered, saying, "A picture would be lovely. I'm excited just thinking about them being posted on your website!"

"We're so glad to hear!" the manager replied, the group of zoo staff happy once again. "If you can, would you two walk over in front of the tank? We will take you underneath the tank afterwards to get a shot there as well. Who knows, maybe we can get one with the baby penguins swimming behind you!"

"Of course," Dave said, fake-smiling the last bit through his teeth. That was when he began walking over towards the penguin exhibit, cueing me to follow after him. Once we got in front of the exhibit, we turned around in unison, looking over as the intern was preparing his camera to begin taking pictures.

"Say cheese!" the intern said happily.

"Cheese!" Dave and I responded in unison, the click of the photograph being taken as the camera's flash hit us. A few more shots like this were taken, no big stunts with the penguins acting behind us for a while, until one decided to jump in the air, photobombing us just as the intern caught it on camera during the fifth try.

"Oh, that was a good one!" the intern said giddily. "I think that one was it!"

"How nice," Dave said, his sarcasm coming out again, but the zoo staff were too preoccupied with the fact they had just obtained their shot to hear it that time. After they collaborated with each other for a bit longer, their heads perked up from looking at the camera, and back to us.

"Okay, Dr. Brine! Can you come with us to the lower levels? We wanna get a shot there too while we're here," the manager said.

Dave grumbled under his breath, then nodded. He started walking first with the zoo staff before I reluctantly followed again. I was cringing as I came up to the staircase to the lower levels, seeing the sighs predominantly for the penguins being advertised everywhere. Seriously, 'PENGUINS, PENGUINS, CUTE PENGUINS'! No wonder Dave was so pissed. I'd be a grumpy asshole too if I kept seeing this stuff everywhere.

The depths of the lower level of the exhibit were lit with a dim light, the light mostly blue due to the tank directly in front of us. Around us were fake rocks, helping with the underwater theme, reminding me for a split second of the damn dam tour I had been on earlier that summer with Dave.

"Look, there they are!" the manager said with glee, pointing his finger at the glass in front of us. Under the water, looking at us, were a handful of little baby penguins. They were still as they came up to the glass, looking at us curiously as we returned the stare back at them from our end.

"Yes, baby penguins!" Dave said, keeping up his act rather well. "We should take the picture now then? Quickly?" He lowered his voice then, shifting it into a whisper, saying in another grumble, "so I can get the heck out of here."

God, I'm so with you on that one, Dave, I thought. This was so awkward. Even for me.

"Great idea, Dr. Brine! We love to hear your enthusiasm!" the manager said.

Dave and I then went back into the routine that we had been coaxed into outside, and walked up to the tank. The closer we got, the more I felt like Dave could throw a punch at the glass if he wanted to and break it, sending the water gushing into the dark room. Reality seemed to get a hold of me rather quick when I found he didn't act on that imagined scenario of mine, and we turned around to face the zoo staff instead.

"Okay… this time, say penguins!" the intern said, trying to be amusing, but being the exact opposite. I found that I could not hold it back any longer, and ended up placing my hand on my forehead out of exhaustion. It was the least I could do to try and keep my feelings on this stain show at bay. Once I had a moment, I perked back up to pose for the picture with Dave.

"Penguins!" I said, playing into the request. However, my voice was alone, the sound of the camera clicking once again, and another light flash hit us. This brought my eyes to blink a few times in order to readjust to the dark room again.

"That one was good!" the intern said. "I like the serious vibe you're giving, Dr. Brine! It looks very… I don't know it has a lot of, je ne sais quoi."

"Okay! We want to show you around a bit more. I'm sure the other animals haven't gone to sleep yet, so we still got time," the manager suggested then. "If you two would follow us…" They began out of the room and up the staircase, Dave yet again following after, with me just about to do the same.

However, this time something caught my eye, breaking me from my stride. The penguins had swum off by now, their tiny forms disappearing back into the big blue tank, when I glanced down towards the sand at the bottom, there a smaller separated tank next to the big penguin one. A puff of soot had been picked up and settled so quickly that it was bound to be another thing that would go over people's heads, but instead I couldn't help but notice it.

Appearing from among the tan sand, and green corral, a small red octopus suddenly morphed into existence in front of me as it settled its colors to its bright from, reveling itself from its environment. It looked like an octopus that could very well be among Dave's henchmen, but unlike the bunch that hung out with Dave, this one looked very old. Its eyes had a sunken look to them, a darker red than the rest of its body.

"Hey, Dave," I spoke up, not breaking eye contact with the octopus. "Hold up for a second."

"What is it?" Dave said, stopping just before he reached the first step of the staircase to look back at me.

"Umm…" I had a hard time getting out my words at first, biting my lip to try and get the words to come to mind. "I didn't see any advertisements for an octopus, did you?"

"I did," Dave said. He lifted up his right hand, turning his body around to where he could point up at the upper right corner of the dark room. It was the one thing I had missed, but I feel like pretty much anybody would miss it. It was something you had to have known was there in the first place.

'Monsters of Abyss: Meet the Octopus', the sign said. It wasn't even lit to draw attention to it. It was just kind of there for the sake of being there.

"Let's get going," Dave said, his tone still disgruntled. "The sooner we get this done the sooner we can go home."

I could only listen to him as he walked up the staircase then, seeing the bright red octopus standing out among the blue world around him. Old…forgotten… alone. Initially, I was amazed that Dave didn't think much of it other than continued bitterness. It seemed getting through with his 'job' and out of here was his top and only priority, which I couldn't blame him for but... I don't know, really.

Thinking back on that moment now, this was just another time where I could have said something—done something. Anything.

But, you know how it is: sometimes the right words and actions don't come until much, much later.