A/N: The last part of this story. I also have edited the previous chapters. There may be a sequel to it but until that - enjoy!

Chapter 7 – All Cards Unfolded

~Skipper's POV~

I watched my weapon expert waddle back to the zoo with Marlene in the cage not to look my second-in-command in the eyes. That made me feel ridiculous. Not the fact that I observed Rico, of course. But that I ordered him to leave so I could talk to Kowalski and I didn't say a word so far.

We are grown-up men...penguins and this situation has to be solved because it can turn out to be unhealthy for the whole team. It's new but I always claim that I'm tolerant...with few exceptions, like mammals and Denmark...maybe a couple of other things, nothing serious, really. To the point! I can handle this! Please, me and not being able to face my soldier? That's basically the point, I'm his superior. In what light it will show me? Him? What will the others do? What if it doesn't work?

I finally moved my head towards Kowalski as I couldn't find answers for my questions. Normally, I would ask him for options but this time it would complicate the situation even more. Deep in my thoughts I caught only pieces of his conversation with Roger. Something about waiting patiently for the concert and not causing panic among humans. Also the green lump still sobbed because of Doris. That minx. Why did dolphins always seem to be the trouble magnets?

"Everything will be alright, Roger." Kowalski tried to cheer the alligator up but I could sense the doubt in his voice. He was never good at that, it was Private's job with all the Lunacorn crap to 'show the light of hope'.

"Nuh-uh, you don't understand. I'm not good enough for her, I have to be honest with myself. I don't stand a chance." I saw how Kowalski's brain worked quickly to come up with something to prevent another wail fit.
"Please, Roger. It's no use and besides...I think it's worth a try. You can't stay your whole life in a pond. Sometimes it's good to take the risk and venture into the deep blue." Kowalski seemed quite proud with the metaphor he had used but the domesticated Godzilla probably didn't get it as I watched him blink with confusion.

"Are you saying I should go to the ocean?" I beak-flippered at Roger's question. Yup, he didn't get it. "Alright, compadre. You will try to process what Kowalski said and we'll be observing the surroundings in hiding." I pushed my soldier towards the bushes but he showed resistance, digging his feet into the ground.

~Kowalski's POV~

The idea of staying alone with Skipper scared me because I didn't know how much he had heard. I almost flipped out when we headed towards the bushes. 'He's going to kill me and bury my body under wood mulch and half-rotted leaves.' the thought went on and on in my brain as I was positioned next to him in the shadows of the plants.

A couple of seconds passed in silence before Skipper spoke up: "I won't lie to you, soldier. I have heard everything, your earlier babbling and what you told Roger too. I can add two and two." 'Copernicus hold on the world, he knows!', my mind practically screamed as I backed away from Skipper until a branch of a bush stopped me in place. The other penguin didn't move an inch with his gaze fixed on the alligator.
"You know that what I said to him was only to raise his morale." To keep the conversation at bay, I wanted to avoid the topic of my monologue at all costs.

"Maybe, but it doesn't mean I can't follow that advice, right? I don't want to stay whole my life in a pond and even if the deep blue wipes its bottom with me I'm ready for that." In other circumstances I would make a remark about Skipper's peculiar use of words but I didn't feel like laughing. Actually, I didn't know what I felt at that time. It was my metaphor but my brain couldn't encode it. "But-"

"No buts, soldier. Where is a problem there are options and I deserve something from life too. Duty calls but picking up a call from some other needs won't kill us." He stopped and I gave him the time to gather his thoughts, aware that he was about to say something important. Besides, he didn't want to hear my 'buts' and there was nothing else on my mind, apart from the question which needs he exactly meant and what was his opinion about my...feelings.
"You're a good friend, Kowalski." A trembling sigh escaped my beak because this happened to be the answer I feared the most but it didn't surprise me that much.

Obvious. Other option shouldn't be taken into consideration. What the heck I was thinking? Hoping for?

A stone fell from my chest but it took my heart down as well, shattering it. Skipper continued, cleaning his throat first, probably expecting a more coherent reply from me, like 'I understand'. However, the sigh took all the air away from my lungs and I couldn't force myself to breath in again.

"I hope you will remain one even when we try a relationship. Together." He empathized the last word since he probably sensed that my brain didn't cope the information that he had tried to make me realise. That our feelings were mutual. That he didn't reject me. Finally, I dared to inhale. Deeply.
I was a mess, however, on the outside nothing changed. Rico was still away with Marlene, the Sun was going down with its natural charm, Roger still lamented in the water. The world went on. Actually, I didn't know what I had been expecting...that a huge gap in the ground would suddenly appear and take me in or that the sky would collapse.

"Only if you want to, of course. It's not an order, Key." Skipper added after not receiving a clear answer from me, his eyes were still on Roger but his voice gave a hint of impatience. The shock caused that I forgot the tongue in my beak. "Sure! I mean yes. It would be..." I tried to look for a nice word to put it.

"Alright. Because it feels right." Calmly and satisfied, Skipper finished the sentence for me. I sought a more eloquent word but for that time it would do. "But one thing has to be clear." I gave the commander a puzzled look. He had a condition, the fear that I wouldn't be able to fulfill it grew inside me. "What would it be, sir?"

"No more pink mirror time for you." With a smirk Skipper nudged my side with his elbow as I returned to my previous position and joined his observation. For the first time that day I could relax and just enjoy the time with my new...boyfriend. In bushes. Observing a crying alligator. And all I knew was that it was perfect.

There is no use to worry about the future, besides, if the commander officer says that something will be alright then it has to be alright. After all, even if the cards don't look good at the beginning, life is not a matter of holding good cards but of playing those you hold well. And Skipper knows how to play his cards right.