Private's POV:
I don't know where I am; I'm in some dark room, sitting on a chair I've never seen before, hearing familiar voices, but no one around. I stand up, and right as I do, I hear him.
"Private.."
My eyes grow wide. I whip around and see Skipper standing there, a disappointed look on his face. I ran towards him and wrapped my arms around him, pressing my face on his soft white feathers.
"Oh, Skippa! You're Back, I missed you so much!" I was at the point of tears of joy, when I sudden;y feel his flippers push me away. I stare into his eyes with a confused look. He stares back in mine, a look of anger and hurt in his eyes.
"What is it, Skippa?" I asked, trying to move closer, but he backed away.
"What is it?" He asked, raising his voice. "What is it? Private, how could you do this to me?" His eyes moved to the ground; it had looked like his heart was broken.
"W-What did I do?" I asked, still trying to get closer, just to feel him one more time, but still he backed away.
"Like you don't even know.." He whispered. I didn't know. What could I have possibly done to him.
And then it hit me. The stranger.
"W-Wait! It's not what you think, I-I didn't do anything!" At that point, he came forward, pointing his flipper at me.
"But you wanted to! I.. I thought we were a team.. Never separated, even at death. I loved you.."
My eyes grew teary and my voice choked up, but I continued. "I never thought of that! I-I love you! Please, Skippa. Just please try to understand.."
It grew silent in the complete darkness; Skipper still was staring at the ground, but then he moved closer, looking up and deep into my eyes.
"It's too late.."
Just as he said that, he had faded from view. "No.." I whispered to myself, searching around the room for any sign of my lover. "No! Skippa, Please! Don't leave me!"
"Skippa!"
Narrator's POV:
His eyes shoot open at the sound of thunder roaring through the headquarters. He had almost let out a scream, but his flipper had stopped it short. After that, he lay in the complete silence of the lair, trying to comprehend his nightmare.
Would Skippa really think that? He thought to himself. It was something that had worried him for quite a bit now; he was scared that he had acquired some sort of feelings for the stranger. He thought of the day they first met and felt his face instantly get hot.
"Ohh, no.." He said to himself, burying his head in his flippers. He Had felt some sort of affection towards him; It was one of the last things he needed, but it was happening. He was betraying Skipper's love for his own.
He quickly shot out of bed and paced through the room, trying to figure out what to do. It was so mind-boggling. He could stay with a lover who was long gone, or leave him and try for another. He didn't even want to think of how Skipper would react, if he were here.
"Skippa.." He whispered out to himself, feeling the tears coming once again.
–
The young Private had left the HQ and was on his way to Skipper's grave. He somehow felt it would aid in his decision, but the closer he got, the more nervous he became.
He finally reached the headstone and sat next to it, placing some flowers he had found in front of it.
"Skippa.." He said, staring at the headstone. "I love you more than anything else in the world, but.. but I think I need to move on.."
He felt himself begin to cry. "I don't know if I can, though.."
Just then, he heard a noise from behind him. He quickly shot around, wiping his eyes dry and searching the trees and bushes for anyone; and that's when he saw Him.
The hooded stranger came closer, leaning down and sitting near Private, who had just felt a bit more nervous.
"Is this him?" He asked, already knowing the answer. Private nodded and stared sullenly at the headstone. He then looked back up to the stranger.
"How did you know I was here?" He asked, giving him a confused look. The stranger started to tense up at that.
"Oh, uh.. I saw you walking here and I wanted to see what you were doing out so late at night." Private didn't believe the story; he was bent on figuring out just who this person was and why he had taken such an interest in Private.
"What were you doing out so late?" He asked, a suspicious look on his face. The more questions he asked, the more nervous the stranger seemed to be.
"Look, Private. I just want to make sure you're safe."
Private smiled a bit and turned a pale red, but he suddenly noticed something he hadn't before. He stood up, backing away from the stranger.
"What is it?" he asked, trying to move closer, but Private shot back and went into a defensive position.
"I..I never told you my name!" He said, staring defensively at the stranger, who had now stood up.
"W-What?" Was all the stranger could muster. He had become very nervous; whatever story he had for all of this, Private was on the verge of figuring it all out.
"You..You know me?" He asked. The stranger looked down at his feet. "Yes, Private. I suppose I do know you.. I know a lot about you." He tried moving closer, but Private backed away again.
"Who..Are you?" The young penguin asked, but before he could get an answer, the stranger and turned and ran away as fast as he could. But Private couldn't let this go; He immediately ran after the hooded man, destined to find whatever secret he held and what he had to do with Private..