Chapter 1: An Unexpected Visit

After the whole Blue Hen nonsense was done with, it was only natural, now that Kowalski had Skipper's semi-approval, that he would want to go visit their unexpected helper. It certainly was a change of pace actually having Skipper's permission to use the coup to go visit Francis during daylight hours instead of sneaking around after dark.

Kowalski pulled up in the same parking-bush he has for every other time he has driven to the lair and hopped out. He knew this time Francis wasn't expecting him, but hopefully he wouldn't have an issue with him dropping by. He wasn't planning to stay long anyhow-unless he wanted to just hang out for a few hours, of course.

He slid over to the door and knocked. He glanced at the hidden lever he had once tried before. Tempting, but he didn't want to enter hanging from the ceiling again. Who knows, this time there could be added lasers since he wasn't expected. No, no he'd be patient.

Sure enough, a few minutes later Red One opened the door. "Doc's going to be a few minutes, but he said you can come in."

"Alright." He nodded, following the lobster inside. "So...What happened to the lobsters working with Blue, do you know?" He glanced down at him.

"The traitors? Oh yeah. They don't work here anymore."

Kowalski paused for a moment. "As in…?"

"Probably not really my place to say, Kowalski."

"Right...Sorry." He grimaced slightly, but then shook it away. He couldn't say he really was surprised to consider that Blowhole would actually boil his traitorous minions, he was, after all, a murderous villain. A dolphin unafraid of drowning the world wouldn't bat an eye at boiling a couple problematic lobsters. And yet…

Kowalski shook his head again. He needed to focus. He came here on a mission, to deliver a message. First the mission, then he'll see what they do. Maybe Francis didn't boil the lobsters, after all. Perhaps he just fired them-He sighed and rubbed his flipper over his face.

Red One led him to the lab and motioned inside. "I'll tell the doc you're in his lab."

"Thanks." He nodded to him again and waddled into the room. A content smile arose on his face as he glanced around. The lab was still just as sexy as it was a couple weeks ago, when he'd last been in there and they had been planning their Halloween date.

"Enjoying the view?"

Kowalski jumped and sharply inhaled, before turning and seeing Francis leaning down by him. He took another deep breath, smiling slightly. "Cod, you really know how to give a guy a heart attack."

"What's that thing Skipper always says? Expect the unexpected?" He chuckled, rolling further into the room.

He rolled his eyes, chuckling. "You've got me there."

"So...Why are you here?"

"Right." Kowalski nodded and cleared his throat. "A few things, but it'll be quick. I understand I just dropped in on your no doubt busy schedule-"

Blowhole motioned for him to get to the point.

"-I wanted to personally thank you for helping us yesterday." He smiled a little sheepishly. "I...I know Blue had stolen your invention and your lobsters, but...I, I really didn't expect you to come yourself, nor stop her from diabologizing us." He paused. "Because it really would seem like a win-win for you both had she diabologized us."

"Ah, you see that's where you're wrong." He motioned for Kowalski to take a seat at the computer, and he does. "I have dibs on you four. If anyone is going to do anything to the four of you, it's going to be me. It's my right as the arch-enemy and the top villain in the area. What's the point of taking over the world if someone else has diabologized your enemies and you yourself can't rub it in their faces because someone else mutated you. Takes all the fun out of it."

Kowalski tilted his head. "So...You still have plans to diabologize the four of us?"

"Eh, maybe." He shrugged. "But if I did, it wouldn't be anything personal, just business."

"...Right…" He slowly nodded and what Blue had said to him before came back to mind. "I thought before you said with loyalty bonding you couldn't do anything to me if you wanted to?"

Blowhole looked down at him. "...That is true." He studied him for a long moment. "Something's on your mind. Go on, out with it."

Kowalski looked up and then away with a sigh. "I'm just...Blue said some things...And...And I just want to make sure I'm not just some pawn to be used." He pulled on the feathers of his upper flipper.

"Well, let's consider the facts. One the one fin, is a manipulative chicken who wants you for herself, on the other fin is your dolphin boyfriend who already came clean to you about the one plan he had in mind where you would have been a pawn, but no longer could continue because he had bonded to you. Which sounds more trustworthy?"

"The dolphin boyfriend." He smiled slightly.

"Exactly. Trust me."

"Hard to do when you just said you would diabologize me if the plans called for it."

Blowhole looked at him. "I'm sorry, did you come here just to try to start a fight?"

"No...That part just resonated." He sighed. "I'm sorry, I want to trust you. Trust is just...It's hard."

"...And it's a two way street." He also sighed, nodding. "I suppose if I am honest, it will depend on our relationship should the occasion arise whether you would befall the same fate as the rest of your team."

"Thank you." Kowalski smiled a little. "Though while we're on the subject of trust-"

"Ugh, what now?"

"Skipper wants to know if you're available tomorrow night for the three of us to meet and discuss us."

"Sure, you two can come here-"

"-No. He wants to meet in a neutral location."

"And where is that?"

"Central Park picnic bench at midnight."

Blowhole considered this, then nodded. "I'll be there."

"Thank you." He looked at the clock and sighed. "I guess I should be going then. I've interrupted you long enough."

"Why? Is there something else you need to go do?"

"No...Just figured I was rude enough to drop by unexpected, and then this-" He motioned vaguely with a sigh. "-did not go as planned."

Blowhole nodded slowly and sighed. "Admittedly, you did not show up at the best time...But I don't have anything planned for the next couple of hours. Maybe while you're here we should do a little date planning, hmm?"

Kowalski perked up and nodded enthusiastically. "Sure!"

He turned and turned on the desktop computer, making sure to lean out of Kowalski's way of seeing the screen. "Tell me if you need the text enlarged."

"...Could you? Just a little."

Blowhole nodded, glancing over at him. "Have you had your vision checked?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know, when the doctor has you read letters off the wall and a card?"

"Vets don't really test that, Francis." He gave him a strange look. "What letter would he hear us say? Squawk?"

"True, I suppose a human doing your medical check ups is pretty useless."

"I fail to see what this has to do with planning our next date."

"Oh nothing, I was merely curious."

Kowalski squinted at him, but decided to let it go. He looked at the computer again. "Soooo...What sort of date should we do for November?"

"Well, I'm busy on Thanksgiving, but your birthday is this month, isn't it?"

"It is, but we don't have to do anything for that."

"Mmmm, we'll see." He tapped his fin on his rostrum. "What about going by the karaoke bar again in a few weeks? This time we could more seriously get to know each other, and not for ulterior motives."

"I'd like that." He smiled and leaned his head against him.

Blowhole looked down and patted his head. "You're a dork, Mittens, I hope you realize that."

Kowalski smiled dorkishly as his feathers rustled slightly. "I know."

"Now, you should probably get back to Skipper and the others before he thinks I've tried to kidnap you or something."

"...But now I don't want to leave."

Blowhole sighed, shaking his head. "Well, if that's the case...Maybe we should start designing you a new ride. That is, assuming Skipper is probably not wanting you to constantly be out with his car?"

"That is a very accurate assumption." He smiled. "Let's do it."