Soldiers Don't Cry

-Incoming Transmission-

Skipper had been restless for a few hours. Private, Kowalski and Rico were all asleep soundly in their bunks. Skipper paced the HQ, uneasily waiting for the transmission to come through on the monitor. As if on cue, Skipper's screen popped on, the familiar face of the penguin's arch enemy, Dr. Blowhole appeared. The dolphin smiled at the frazzled looking bird and began his transmission.

"Good evening, pen-goo-in!" Blowhole's eerily chipper voice said. "I do hope I didn't keep you waiting."

"Let's skip the niceties, Blowhole! I accepted your call. What do you want?" Skipper glared at Blowhole through his camera. Blowhole grinned and continued his transmission.

"Indeed. Let's get right to the point," Blowhole began, scooting forward slightly on his segway. "You four pen-goo-ins have been a thorn in my side for way too long! You seem to show up exactly when you aren't wanted!" Dr. Blowhole yelled, slamming his smooth flipper on a nearby table. Skipper smiled. He was glad he had distressed the evil porpoise. "And that's exactly why I'm prepared to cut you a little deal." Now Skipper was intrigued.

"Go on, Blowhole."

"You ruin my plans, and I ruin your peace. Wouldn't it be great if both of those problems just; went away?"

"Just get to it already!" Skipper yelled impatiently.

"Alright alright! You pen-goo-ins have no appreciation for dramatic tension!" Dr. Blowhole whined. "Okay, here's the deal. I want you to disband your team!" Blowhole smiled menacingly.

Skipper laughed. "Are you serious? Not going to happen, marine mammal." Blowhole didn't flinch.

"Skipper. We both know who this feud is really between. You and me! Why get the rest of your team involved?" Dr. Blowhole scooted to the right on his segway, the camera following him.

"They're my team. We live together; we fight together, end of story." Skipper said strongly. Dr. Blowhole laughed.

"Ah, and that's where you're wrong Skipper. You will disband your team, you have no choice!" Dr. Blowhole laughed some more.

Skipper was getting even more impatient. "And how do you figure that, Blowhole?" With that, the evil dolphin pushed a button on his segway, making a screen appear behind him.

"Because! I will blow up all of New York!" Red flashing lights appeared on the screen, indicating the hundreds of explosives Dr. Blowhole had set up. Skipper's jaw hit the floor. "And don't even think about getting your teams help, Skipper! I have this baby rigged to explode if I even think you're going to!"

"You're stark raving mad Blowhole!" Skipper yelled at the screen. "What do you even get out of this?"

"Everything, Skipper. With the other three not around, it'll just be you and me." Dr. Blowhole cackled. "One on one. Fair." Skipper hated to admit it, but Blowhole had him cornered. Skipper looked behind him at his sleeping comrades. Kowalski was on his back, his flippers clasped on his belly. Rico was on his side, his leg sticking up awkwardly in the air. And Private... He was on his stomach, his adorable tail wiggling in his sleep. "It's your choice Skipper. Say goodbye to your team, or say goodbye to New York!" Skipper looked longingly at his team. He knew that if he didn't agree to Blowhole's plan, the whole city- including the zoo, would be obliterated. "Do we have a deal?" With a heavy heart, he turned to face the evil dolphin.

"...Deal." he almost choked out. Dr. Blowhole laughed manically behind the screen.

"You have chosen wisely, pen-goo-in! Now say goodbye to your team, forever!" Dr. Blowhole continued laughing, and cut off his transmission. Skipper collapsed to the ground. Why was this happening? The idea of never seeing his team again was almost beyond him, he couldn't even think about it. He would undoubtedly miss Kowalski's snarky smart attitude and amazing scientific skill, and Rico's boundless energy and brute power. That left Private... Skipper looked over his sleeping beloved penguin. Skipper sat at the edge of Private's bunk, and gently pet his feathers. The smaller penguin fidgeted in his sleep.

"Mmmm..." Private moaned with sleep. He slowly woke up and glanced over at Skipper, who still quietly pet his feathers. "Skippa? What's all this then?" he said quietly, rubbing his eyes. Skipper smiled. Private's voice was soft and groggy, making his British accent sound twice as adorable.

"Oh, it's nothing Private." Skipper replied soflty. Private sat up, and sat beside his commander. "Sorry, I was having trouble sleeping, so I was just watching you sleep." Skipper wrapped his flippers around Private, pulling the smaller penguin against him. Private's body was quite warm, and Skipper sighed at how comfortable he was. Private smiled as he snuggled into Skipper's chest feathers.

"You're never this affectionate Skippa... Is it my birthday?" Private smiled, burying his head deeper into Skipper's feathers. The leader chuckled, already missing the time he would spend with Private. Skipper leaned his head against Privates.

"I just wanted to let you know... I love you. That will never change, understood, Private?" Skipper said quietly. Tears began to form in his stern eyes. Private wasn't sure why Skipper was being so spontaneous or cryptic, but he was enjoying the tenderness from his lover.

"I... love you too Skippa." Private whispered. Skipper leaned down and kissed Private's slightly open beak. The smaller penguin eagerly returned the kiss, moving his beak against Skippers. The two reveled in each others warmth for what seemed like hours. Slowly, Skipper broke the contact, and turned away, his face flushed.

"Um... I should let you get back to bed, Private." Skipper stood up, and got off Private's bunk. "Sorry for waking you." Private blushed as well and laid back into his bed.

"It's okay Skippa..." Private yawned. "Um... well goodnight then." Skipper pulled the blankets over Private, and kissed him lightly on the forehead.

"Goodnight, Private." Skipper smiled as he walked back to his bunk. He slid into the cold concrete bed and let his tears flow. "I...love you Private."

Author's Note: Hello again everyone! This is the starting chapter of my new fanfiction, Soldiers Don't Cry! This is going to be a tear jerker, I'm warning you. It's also going to be quite the long one, maybe ten or even twenty chapters! I hope you all enjoy chapter 1, reviews are always welcomed and encouraged! Thanks!- TimeWellWasted