Author's note: There's so much teenage angst. It's like a soap opera at this point.
Kowalski was in the lab going over what Blowhole had done that morning and reading every new note he had made and left. All the edited documents on the computer and voice files. There had been a lot of progress that morning and Blowhole was right, like usual. There wasn't much more Kowalski could do besides sit and stare at the tests as they incubated.
Now he felt bad. He was the biggest hypocrite he had ever met, yelling at Blowhole for being lazy and behind when in reality Kowalski had been sleeping while Blowhole worked his flippers off. He couldn't imagine how the dolphin must have felt just then. Insulted, upset, enraged because Kowalski had blamed him for his shortcomings. What kind of a hero was Kowalski if he blamed the victim?
Blowhole was changing, he may not have looked it but he was scared. He's been scared ever since the first day. Kowalski made a promise to help and make things better, but for now all he seemed to have done was make things worse. What kind of a penguin was he? What kind of a friend was he? Blowhole had opened up like a flower under the blazing sun for Kowalski. Had let him in on how he was feeling, his regrets and his pain. Kowalski just stomped all over everything. What was wrong with him?
Kowalski also thought about how much Blowhole had changed. He could certainly be cruel and treat everyone around him like dirt but maybe Kowalski liked being treated like dirt. Or maybe he liked the way Blowhole slowly started to trust him. Slowly let his true colours shine through, and they weren't all black and grey, they were complicated and wild. Blowhole hadn't really changed at all, now that he thought about it, just shown Kowalski more sides to him. His vulnerable side where he let Kowalski in on his mental struggles and Kowalski hadn't judged him at all. His more deceptive side where he had wronged his sister, keeping his double life a secret and stealing Jay from her. His kind and loving side, where he just loved to joke and play around. Ok, he let that one out a lot. Kowalski could still feel the burn of alcohol in the back of his throat. These were all dangerous things to think about, but how could Kowalski not love what a character he was and how deep his personality flowed?
He was suddenly torn away from his thoughts as he heard the door open. His face flushed red in shame as he turned expecting to see Blowhole but instead Doris stood attentively, smiling brightly as she rode into the room.
"Good morning, Kowalski. Is my brother around?"
Kowalski looked back to the desk, avoiding eye contact with her. It hurt to look at her and he couldn't tell why. Perhaps it was because he knew how unhappy she was staying with him or perhaps it was the shame he felt for falling for her brother, just as Jay did.
"He could be anywhere," Kowalski replied.
Doris frowned and rode over to the table to Kowalski. She could tell he was upset, she had been with him long enough to be able to tell what was going through his little bird brain.
"Kowalski? Is something wrong? Is Francis ok?" She panicked slightly.
Kowalski looked up in an instant to calm her fears.
"Yes, yes, he's fine."
Doris sighed and gave a nervous chuckle.
"Oh, good."
But Kowalski's expression stayed the same. He looked truly depressed. Doris felt his pain and placed a warm, gentle flipper on his back.
"What's wrong, Kowalski?"
She's waiting for an excuse to break up with you! You're a freak! You're embarrassing! Get over yourself!
Kowalski was a freak, he was embarrassing. But he had more self respect than Blowhole thought he had. And he had more respect for Doris too. He didn't want to do her dirty just as Jay did. He didn't want things to get so deep it would be considered cheating. Because these feelings in his head, in the pit of his stomach... they all screamed for Francis. His approval, his attention, his stupid cocky smile. Kowalski was bewitched, he'd developed Stockholm syndrome, he needed help. Or maybe he just needed to understand.
"I think we should see other people."
Doris jerked back her flipper and stared down in awe. She didn't quite know what to say, what to emote. But out of everything she could have done, she didn't do what Kowalski expected. She stayed calm, more confused than anything else, and that just confirmed what Blowhole had said, Doris didn't want to be with him because she made no effort to fight back.
"Kowalski, whu- where did this come from? Did Francis say anything to you?"
Kowalski took a minute to mull over his thoughts then shook his head.
"No. I just figured that the 17th time isn't the charm." He was even lying now.
Doris' brows rose in thought as stared down at Kowalski. She looked slightly awkward before she cleared her throat and looked to the door before she turned and looked back to Kowalski.
"My brother didn't influence this?"
"If you're asking if this is another Jay situation, it's not. Blowhole's pretty upset with me. No offense, but we really need to get working with this cure. I think it's best you come back tomorrow."
He couldn't even bring himself to be truthful with Doris.
There was a moment of silence before Doris suddenly smirked. It was a smirk so reminiscent of her brother's. They really were one in the same. She then started backing away to the door, keeping her eyes on Kowalski.
"Hey, I call 'em as I see 'em. Whatever you did, he'll get over it. He always does. Give him my love. See you tomorrow."
It was then she disappeared through the door and Kowalski was left alone again. For now at least.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw an alert come up on the computer. It was a timer alert that was being sent straight to Blowhole, telling him the incubation period was up. He'd be coming back any minute now and Kowalski hadn't prepared a speech or anything that would help him profusely apologise to the dolphin. Perhaps he could grovel and kiss Blowhole's flukes and that would give him forgiveness?
But when Blowhole never came, Kowalski felt something even worse in the pit of his stomach. He would rather purposely infect himself and let Blowhole watch him turn into a monster than have Blowhole give up all hope because of some stupid words he said to him.
Kowalski picked up where Blowhole left off with work and just kept Blowhole's life in mind. He was going to save him. He was going to fix everything and everything would be fine and their friendship would continue!
Another hour passed where Kowalski was just indulged deep into his work. Not letting his mind slip to think about anything else other than the equations circling his mind and a few numbers he needed to remember. He was silent while he worked, he could practically hear the blood pumping through his body as his heart pounded in his ears. He couldn't lose concentration, couldn't stop working even for a minute because one minute could be the difference between life and death for his friend.
Everything was eerily silent. The only other sign of life being the slight hum outside the lab door. Kowalski perked up slightly, thinking Blowhole had arrived but shook his head and willed himself to keep working.
A sudden shriek filled the air. Kowalski startled and nearly dropped his equipment. His thundering heart told him something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong. He shot his head to the door where he listened more, his blood rising to his head, but that didn't help him think any straighter.
Blowhole suddenly burst in the room with a panic struck face. His eye shot wide open from fear as Kowalski gasped upon the somewhat new face Blowhole now possessed. His dolphin beak had changed slightly and he now sported a nose.
"Kowalski!" Blowhole exclaimed.
Kowalski waved, knowing Blowhole had a hard time seeing now. Blowhole soon caught sight of the bird and rushed over to the table.
"Kowalski! I-I- my breathing! It's changed and it's freaking me out!"
Kowalski nodded and grabbed Blowhole's flipper letting him know everything was alright. He had to push down his shame from earlier and focus solely on helping Blowhole.
Kowalski could see clearly now. Blowhole would have to change his name because he no longer had a blowhole. His airways had shifted and he breathed just as Kowalski did now, through his nose and mouth. Probably not the biggest change he was in for but even so, Kowalski could imagine how startling it must be to suddenly be breathing through a different part of your body.
"And my senses are going wild! What is this sensation? It's like taste but vastly different."
Kowalski cocked a brow.
"Smell?" He queried.
"I can smell?! I've grown a nose?" Blowhole asked.
Kowalski could only guess this was for the same reason a shark needed it's smell. For hunting, smelling blood from a mile away. Kowalski didn't say a word about it though, for Blowhole was too freaked out to freak out more with the notion that his senses were being heightened to kill.
"Kowalski! Time is running out! We need a new plan!"
Kowalski yanked Blowhole's flipper down so the dolphin stared the penguin right in the eye. Blowhole could see clearly in his narrowed vision as Kowalski stared with fire in his eyes.
"We don't need a new plan. This plan will work."
Blowhole shook his head and panted, unsure how to breathe properly now due to his rearranged airways.
"But I'm changing too fast. Kowalski, think about this, please-"
"No! Listen to me! I'm sorry about what I said earlier! Cut me down, filet me and serve me with broccoli because it's just the worst vegetable! I'll keep working, keep working every waking minute of my life until I fix you. I promise."
Blowhole shook his head, a pained look on his face as he leaned down further.
"Kowalski, that doesn't matter anymore. I'm sorry for what I said too, even if it was true, I shouldn't have said it. But seriously, at this rate I'm going to be-"
"Nuuuh! No! Shut up! Go get your lab coat on now!"
Kowalski pointed to the wall where several hooks with coats were hanging. He pushed Blowhole in that direction until the mammal gave in. Blowhole backed up in silence then a cheeky smirk rose from his face.
"No one tells me what to do. Not even someone who I owe my life to."
Kowalski sighed. Blowhole was back at joking again. Well, one problem had been fixed and Blowhole no longer wanted to strangle the bird but it just so happened that as soon as something was fixed a new problem arose. Kowalski wasn't sure how Blowhole was still hanging on to his sanity, though he supposed someone who had been through trauma such as he had would think this stuff to be more normal day to day problems. Not that it made it right. It was very wrong and Kowalski swore to himself he would become Blowhole's therapist if he needed him to be. He'd been finding himself wanting more and more to help the dolphin. He was falling deeper and deeper into these forbidden fantasies.