#skipju

“I can’t believe how swimmingly that went,” Skipper murmurs. The sun has just fully broken the horizon, casting an orange-yellow glow over the park. He went out before dawn, before the zoo could open, before anyone was awake.

It’s a bit sneaky - but when one harbors an unusual crush for so long, it becomes hard to admit it to anyone. In some cases, even oneself.

“I know right,” Julien agrees, waving his hands in the air. “Maurice was all like: ‘You two are probably just going to argue the whole time! It isn’t a good idea! Doesn’t he kinda hate your guts?’ And I was telling him to shut up a little.”

“Did you… did you tell him it was a date?” Skipper noticed a crack in Julien’s voice, and he quickly adds, “I’ve never hated you, doll.”

Julien folds his hands behind his back and raises an eyebrow.

“Not that it’s a big deal if you did! He is your right hand man and oldest friend after all…”

“I told him it was a rendezvous, to be working out our differences out of the public eye. He approved, but he was having da heebie-jeebies.”

Julien imitates a dramatic shudder, then shakes his head. Skipper casts a glance at the horizon. Julien just looks at him, smiling. Skipper says, “We’d better head back.”

“So soon?” Julien sighs. “It is being for da betters. Can we be… having more dates? Tonight, or maybe tomorrow if dat is… okay, Skipper…”

Julien kneels next to him as he speaks, to gaze into his eyes at his level. His expression is full of pleading. Skipper can’t resist. He steps closer and nuzzles him. “Of course, Ringtail, whatever you like.”

“Heh, you - you are what I like.”

Skipper’s heart picks up the pace at his tone. Now that this box has been opened, there’s no way he’ll be able to stuff it all back inside. He’ll have to confess to the boys, too, sooner or later. He won’t be able to keep up appearances.

Julien, on the other hand - or flipper, has never exactly been subtle. He can barely take his hands or his eyes off of Skipper on the way back, but it’s not a drastic contradiction to the tactile lemur’s common behavior. 

Skipper… well… it’s only a matter of time before everyone is questioning the spark in his eyes and the spring in his step.