Food 05.29.23

Note: This installment takes place shortly after Littlefoot. You can take this installment as Skilene but doesn't have to be.

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Spanish guitar. Food for the soul, Marlene would say.

Skipper was grateful his skills had come in handy today to reign in the feral Marlene out in the park. If one thing was certain, the one way to always get to Marlene's heart was playing her favorite instrument.

He played a few more notes on it to tune it, then played some improvised chords. He'd be lying if he said he didn't also enjoy the instrument. Though he had it rough hiding in the jungles of Mexico for nearly a decade, tickling the strings of the guitar was the one way he could escape for a bit and forget he was fighting for his life.

Marlene dropped through the hatch to the HQ and Skipper stopped playing and set his guitar down, propped up against the wall by the bunks.

"Hey, Marlene," Skipper said. "You should be in your habitat resting. You've had a long day."

"I know," Marlene replied. "I just wanted to come say thank you for today."

"Of course, Marlene. You know we always got your back. Speaking of which, where's the boys?" Skipper asked.

"After they left me they said they wanted some more fish before bed. Apparently, I helped them work up an appetite. They said they'd bring you some," Marlene responded.

Skipper smiled. "They'd know better not to," he joked.

Marlene chuckled. "Yeah," she said. She looked down. "Look, I just wanted to say thank you."

Skipper's brow pinched. "I know, you already said that."

"No," Marlene said. "I meant thank you for being my friend. When no one else knew what to do, you knew me well enough to know how to get through to me. I'm lucky to have a friend that cares enough about me to know me like that."

Skipper smiled softly. "Of course, Marlene. And thank you for being my friend as well. Out of everyone here, besides my men of course, you're the only one who I'd trust with my life."

The two smiled at each other for a moment before exchanging a hug. The hatch opened and the boys dropped through as they separated.

"Oh, hello, Marlene," Kowalski said, carrying a flipper-full of fish to the table. "You're not feeling feral again, are you?" he asked, surveying her with a suspicious eye.

Marlene rolled her eyes. "No, I just wanted to come by to thank you guys again." She turned to Skipper. "I'm gonna go turn in now. Thanks again for everything. Maybe we can play Spanish guitar together sometime?"

Skipper smiled. "That would be nice. See you around, Marlene. Sleep well."

"Sleep well, Skipper," Marlene responded before returning up the hatch.

Skipper went to the table where the boys had begun eating their bedtime snack. Taking a few for himself, he smiled as he ate.

"Something up, Skipper?" Private asked, eyeing him curiously.

Skipper shook his head. "No, Private. I'm just happy we could help Marlene. Mission accomplished, boys."

[Words: 493]