Missing Moments in PoM Special

Ch 5: Surprise!

'Today is the day we finally move you into the new puffin exhibit. But if you over-strain yourself, you'll be back in the hospital. Oh Alice, now you're talking to the birds. I really need a date,' the zookeeper opened the cage door and lifted the puffin out, placing him gently next to his new burrow.

As the woman walked away, Hans glanced around his new home. The rocky cliff he was standing on arched down into a flat stone surface surrounded on all sides by water. Not unlike the penguin habitat, though they had an underground base and Hans had a burrow entrance in the side of a small cliff.

The puffin was surprised at the lack of animals in the nearby habitats. No lemurs, no otter, no penguins...

Hans sighed and shuffled into his new burrow. Guess no one was interested in visiting Hans the Puffin.

'Awe, he looks so cute.'

'Quiet Private, you'll wake him.'

'I thought that was the point, Skipper.'

'Oh, right. Hans, time to get up.'

The puffin blinked into the darkness of his burrow and then winced as a light shone directly into his eyes.

'Private,' Skipper's voice called out from the darkness.

'Sorry. Is that better?'

Hans scratched his beak and sat up, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Moments later, four familiar shapes became visible in the middle of his burrow.

'Come on, sleeping beauty. You slept long enough in the hospital. It's time to get up and meet the neighbors,' Skipper insisted, helping the puffin to his feet.

'Skipper... you came to visit me?' Hans glanced down at the penguin supporting some of his weight. The cast might have come off, but the puffin was still limping as he adjusted to having weight on his legs again.

'Visit? Silly puffin. I plan to live here with you. Unless you're breaking up with me,' the penguin shot him a look as they stepped into the moonlight.

'Of course not. Why would I be breaking up with you? Maybe you are the silly one, Skipp-ah,' Hans' German accept tickled the penguin's ear-holes.

'Good. Cause I would make your life miserable if you tried to break up with me,' Skipper promised, a flipper still wrapped around the puffin's waist as they waddled down the small cliff.

'I would expect you to,' Hans answered, leaning down to nuzzle the penguin's cheek.

'Awww, here be coming the love birds. How cute,' Julien's familiar slang cut through the moment and drew the puffin's attention to the crowd gathered outside his habitat.

'Hans, meet everybody. Everybody, this is my mate, Hans!' Skipper announced, nudging the puffin in the side.

'Pleasure to meet you, old chap,' Mason commented, Phil waving next to him.

'Welcome to the Zoo. We've heard all sorts of strange, likely untrue stories about you,' Marlene commented, getting up on the railing to see the puffin better.

Hans glanced at the group of penguins now surrounding him and could only wonder what they'd told the other animals.

'Don't worry. They don't believe anything about our secret lives,' Skipper whispered.

'And I am King Julien! You can call me King Julien. I hereby welcome you to the Zoo!' a crowned lemur leapt from the group and landed in front of Hans with open arms.

'You're only king of the lemurs, ring-tail,' Skipper argued, glaring at the mammal.

'I am still king and you are only a commoner. Still, I accept the puffin as my newest subject!' Julien threw his arms around the new bird and gave him a quick hug.

'Oooh, you have a colorful beak. I like it. It's much more classy than their little beaks,' the lemur threw a glance at the penguins before sauntering away.

Hans tried not to laugh out loud at the look on Skipper's face.

'Well, we should let Hans rest some more. He's still recovering,' Private suggested.

'Good idea. Why don't you three wrap up this welcoming party while I get Mr. Lazywings to bed,' Skipper tugged Hans lightly back up the cliff.

'That was a party?' Hans wondered aloud, letting himself get ushered into the burrow.

'Not really. We convinced ring-tail to save the real party until you're fully recovered. And trust me, the lemurs never miss an excuse to party. Speaking of which, I forgot to pack my noise-cancelling headphones. We'll have to get a set for you too. But for now, you need more sleep,' Skipper pushed Hans back into his nest and curled up next to him.

'Skipper...' Hans folded his wing over the other bird's body and pulled him closer.

'Hm?'

'Ich liebe dich,' Hans whispered, enjoying the warm body snuggled against him.

'Love you too, Hans,' Skipper nuzzled his mate's beak and relaxed into the puffin's embrace. Tomorrow would be the start of a brand new life for them both.

...the end...

Note: I'm off to work on "Star Child" and Missing Moments in PoM: Red Queen.