Red one stood there menacingly. Kowalski didn't think he had ever seen the lobster look remotely happy before. Putting up with Blowhole probably sucked every last ounce of happiness out of the poor guy. Though, Kowalski had to admit, things hadn't been so bad this morning. Blowhole didn't even mention once the kick to the nose he had received, which Kowalski was almost sure he was going to get his throat ripped out for.
The lobster didn't move out of the way or even look at Kowalski. He looked straight up at Blowhole.
"How're the tests going?" He asked.
Blowhole shrugged.
"As good as predicted."
"So where are you headed to?"
Blowhole rolled his eye, fed up of the conversation already, pushed past the lobster and into the elevator.
"The kitchen. It's lunch time," he said.
The lobster took a moment to think then sighed.
"It's only 11:30."
"It will be lunch time by the time I refresh myself," Blowhole said looking to Kowalski and then pointing to the ground next to him.
Kowalski followed the dolphin and quickly waddled into the elevator, where Blowhole shut the door on the lobster and took it to the kitchen.
He huffed, annoyed and crossed his flippers before mumbling something inaudible. Kowalski felt a little awkward and didn't know what to do. It seemed there was bad blood between the lobster and dolphin and he didn't know why. Didn't think he'd ever get to know why either.
The elevator opened and Blowhole rode out, leaving the bird behind.
"I'm going to freshen up. Help yourself in the kitchen, I'll be back in 20 minutes."
Blowhole promptly rode away and turned down the corridor. It was a good thing Kowalski had a good memory because otherwise he wouldn't have been able to find the kitchen again through the maze of doors.
Kowalski entered the kitchen and spent a good few minutes exploring the cupboards and countertops. There seemed to be a lot of food one would find in a human kitchen. Pasta, rice, sauces, spices and in the fridge there was even more goodies. Kowalski found a few tins of fish and grabbed a tin of sardines for himself. It looked the like the dolphin was very focused on health though, every package of food had bold claims printed on them like 'low in salt! Low in sugars! Gluten free!' A tin of fish sufficed, Kowalski didn't need to faff around with all of this other weird stuff.
The kitchen door opened again and Kowalski smiled after thinking it was Blowhole. He could make him another cup of coffee. But the evil dolphin didn't come in. Instead, Red One scuttled in.
He looked around and then up to Kowalski once he realised Blowhole wasn't there.
"Where's doc?" He asked.
Kowalski turned from the cupboards and hopped down onto the floor.
"He went to the lavatory I think?"
The lobster closed the door and came further into the room. Kowalski felt a little uneasy. All the times he had seen the lobster previously was when he was angry. But the lobster looked calm this time.
"Kowalski, can I talk with you quickly?" Red One asked.
Kowalski nodded and waddled forward.
"Has doc been behaving for you?" The lobster asked.
Kowalski cocked a brow.
"Behaving like what? He's been exactly as I'd expect him to be."
The lobster clicked his claws and huffed slightly.
"Of course, you've only been here a while you wouldn't know what he's like," he said.
Kowalski didn't know how to reply to that or how to feel. But the lobster looked up again.
"Ever since the caper when you first showed up, docs been a little... different."
"How so?" Kowalski said as he perked a brow.
"He's been more hostile, I guess. You're used to his bad attitude because that's what he wants to show you but to the rest of us he's usually pretty good. I can't figure out what's wrong."
Kowalski couldn't help but recall back to a very early conversation he and Blowhole had had once. Blowhole had complained at how serious Red was but other than that Kowalski didn't know how Blowhole acted when he wasn't around.
"Have you noticed those spots too? They're weird. I've told him to ask his family about them but he won't talk about them."
Kowalski thought for a moment. Every time Kowalski had bought them up Blowhole had evaded the conversation and got funny at him too. Perhaps there was something deeper to all of this.
"Yes, I've seen them and shown my concern. He doesn't talk to me though, so I'm not sure how I can help."
Red sighed and looked around for nothing in particular before he fixed on Kowalski again.
"You seem to be his latest fixation. Try and get more out of him. Pressure him into doing something about it. If there's something wrong with him then I'll be the one to suffer."
Kowalski nodded. He wasn't sure how he could help but he would try. Red seemed like a nice guy, just under a lot of pressure to get work done. Having a boss like Blowhole couldn't be easy either.
"I'll try."
The lobster smiled, a smile that showed just how tired and overworked he was. But he also showed hospitality and outstretched a claw to shake Kowalski's flipper.
"Thanks."
Kowalski smiled back. They were both under pressure from the dolphin and Kowalski found it in his interest to help the guy in anyway he could. Even if he was the enemy. It was just in his penguin blood to help someone in need.
As Red One left the dolphin in question came back. He didn't look nearly as grumpy as he had been when they parted a few minutes ago. He travelled the room, straight past Kowalski and searched the cupboards himself before turning to Kowalski for the first time.
"Ah, you found the fish," he said.
Kowalski looked down to his flippers, he had forgotten he found a tin of fish.
"Oh, yeah."
Blowhole grabbed himself some fish and relaxed at the table, sitting himself down and sighing. He then chuckled, leaning his head back and looking up at the ceiling.
"Good morning, I'm nearly back on schedule."
Kowalski chuckled too, jumping up onto the table and making himself comfortable before opening his tin of fish.
"All thanks to me," he joked back to the dolphin.
Blowhole rolled his eye and leaned forward again.
"More like 12% thanks to you."
The couple ate their fish and couldn't find it in themselves to think about getting back to work yet. They were just enjoying each other's company and scientific conversations. Kowalski was starting to fully enjoy himself too. He could never have conversations like this with the rest of his team. Blowhole really understood what Kowalski was talking about and he could truly feel the difference between talking with someone and not at them.
But what Red One had spoken to him about stuck in his mind. It seemed the lair was in desperation with Blowhole somehow being behind on work, acting strangely and coming out in spots. Blowhole appeared to have always been a goal oriented dolphin. There was no way he would let himself get behind on such important work.
As Blowhole brought his flipper up to rub his head and sigh Kowalski caught sight of those spots again, only, they had spread, again. It had only been this morning, 6 hours ago, that he had last looked at them. Now there were a few faint dots on Blowhole's head. Things were starting to get unsettling for Kowalski to comprehend. So instead of thinking anything, he just stared. But of course, this irked the dolphin.
Blowhole raised a brow and waved his flipper in a questioning way.
"Something on my face?" He asked sarcastically.
Kowalski shook his head and awkwardly cleared his throat.
"No, just... your spots have spread since this morning."
"I told you to stop looking at them!" Blowhole exclaimed.
"I just don't understand, I've done research and at your age and health you shouldn't have them. It's concerning," Kowalski said.
Blowhole looked down his flippers, covered in these strange marks. He held his flippers close, trying to hide them from the world. Not that he could hide his blemishes anymore since they travelled up his body.
"And you don't think I'm worried? Everyone has been going on to me about them too. There's nothing I can do."
Kowalski thought for a moment. What could possibly cause a dolphin to spot early? An illness? Stress? When humans get stressed their hair changes colour, so perhaps the same could happen with a dolphin and his skin?
"Does your family have hereditary skin problems?" Kowalski asked.
Blowhole just blinked at the bird and then scowled. Why should the bird be concerned about his health? If anything he should be joyous that Blowhole was experiencing health complications.
"Can we move on?"
"They're on your head too," Kowalski stated.
Blowhole had had enough. He was sick and tired of hearing everyone criticising him for the way he looked. Because it could have been just that. His skin could have just decided it needed a few more spots and broke out as such.
"Enough! Who cares?! If I have a terminal skin condition, it's none of your concern!" Blowhole nearly screamed.
But Kowalski wasn't phased. He didn't flinch or back away. Just frowned, feeling empathetic to the dolphin during such a confusing time.
"It is my concern because we're friends. If this is something hazardous to your health then I want to help fix it."
Blowhole blinked back his anger. Kowalski could see the clear rage in his eyes and the will he had to stop himself from lunging forward and strangling the penguin. Perhaps it was the notion that they were friends that held Blowhole back or the fact that he needed Kowalski in some way, like gathering more information or for testing things. But Blowhole breathed himself back to a calm state and sighed before bringing his flipper up to rub his eye.
"If we are friends, then you have to know my appearance is all I have. Do not make me feel bad about it."
Kowalski nodded and gave a tender smile. Other than his brothers at the HQ, he had never had many friends. The only other scientifically driven people he had met were enemies, so he was glad to have finally found a friend in Blowhole. Even if he was an enemy too.
"Anyway, it's probably just stress related," Blowhole smiled back. "You won't believe how much stress I'm under running this company, scheming, dealing with my PTSD and putting up with you."
Kowalski laughed back and shook his head.
"You put up with me? I'm the one putting up with you! Who's the one who torments me for not being able to read? Not having state of the art technology? And not to mention your awful jokes!"
"Hey, don't forget I also make you the best coffee in the world. I helped make those boots of yours and made sure Doris was on time for your date. All those other things are a part of my personality. "
Kowalski simpered and blushed behind his feathers.
"I guess that does make us friends then."
In retrospect it had only been a short time since the pair had been working together. Kowalski should have been more cautious around the dolphin and Blowhole should have been more fixed on his goals but life found funny ways to make living interesting. In this instant it was bringing two enemies together. Kowalski knew he would never join Blowhole down the path he created but he would from now on try to push the dolphin in a different direction. One of good and show him kindness and how he didn't need to let anger control his life. The road ahead was still murky but Kowalski had a good idea of where he wanted it to go.
"Don't get sentimental," Blowhole sneered.