Title: Promises to keep
Fandom: Penguins of Madagascar
Pairing(s): Rico/Kowalski
Warning: Homosexuality, furries
Summary: Rico has an odd almost prophetic dream, and the whole day, he mopes and mulls it over, though he isn't exactly an Einstein or Da Vinci.

Thunder shook the penguin's concrete HQ. "Sk-Skippah…" Private sniveled and Skipper was immediately at his youngest crew member's side with a questioning noise, eyebrow arched.

"What is it, Private?" he murmured loudly, his cobalt eyes darting this way and that. "Did you hear something over the storm? A break in?"

Private blushed under his feathers, a not so quite unpleasant sensation, and shook his head. "All I hear is the storm." The youngster looked into his skipper's eyes pleadingly. "Can I sleep with you?"

Skipper sputtered loudly. "I think not, young Private, it would be highly inappropri—"

"B-but Skippah!" Private shook, "I con't sleep, I'm too scared."

For the last time that day, Skipper sighed and set his jaw. "Alright, okay. But just for tonight." He forewarned, and settled down into the bed, ruffling when Private buried his head into his feathers. "Ahem…good night."

"'Night…" Private breathed, all smiles, and promptly fell asleep, with his leader following not so far behind.

Rico shivered at the sound of thunder, and, having watched the interaction between Skipper and Private, scooted to the edge of his bed and stood, taking the edge of his teammate's bunk firmly. "…hmm." Waking him up would be somewhat of a problem. He didn't want to frighten his friend. "K'walski…?" he choked hoarsely. Kowalski shifted, but did little else.

He nudged the taller's stomach hard. To this, Kowalski snorted awake in a daze. "What? Oh, Rico…what time is it?"

Rico shrugged and pushed his superior over, sliding in himself. Kowalski huffed and pushed back. "What are you doing?" he demanded as a ripple of thunder cracked over head. As soon as Rico shivered, Kowalski knew why. "A mild case of astraphobia? No, it doesn't seem to be that severe…" he hummed and rubbed his beak. Rico cuddled up against him as Kowalski reddened, "Ah…Rico, I…" he paused and took at good look at his mute comrade. "You're afraid of the storm?"

Belligerently, Rico shook his head, but shivered again at another loud clap of thunder. He made a discouraging sound as he acknowledged it. Kowalski patted him comfortingly, "No worries, Rico, I won't tell anyone. After all, it's only natural. In our natural habitat, penguins don't normally get caught in a thunder storm. Skipper and I've had time to get used to them, Private and you, however…but never you mind…" he paused. "I suppose I could allow you to sleep beside me…after all, I assume Private is sleeping with Skipper."

The intellectual jumped at Rico's hoarse chuckle and found himself laughing quietly himself. "Let's get some sleep, shall we?"

"Uh-huh." Rico snuggled his head further into his friend's side as another bolt of lightning ripped the sky.