Irhaboggle Pride (2019) Spectrum

Spirit

His name was Danger Mouse, and Penfold adored him. In every sense of the word, Penfold loved Danger Mouse. He wasn't quite sure when, where, why or how it happened, he just knew that it did. Was it the bright, confident eye? The cocky, charming smile? The proud posture? The toned, athletic body? The smooth and commanding voice? His charismatic and enduring personality? His courage? His gumption? His ability to save the day even when things were at their lowest? His dedication to the things and people he loved?

Well, it was all of the above. But Penfold could sum it up in just one word: spirit. It was Danger Mouse's spirit that Penfold had fallen in love with. Danger Mouse was just so unrepentantly himself, and for someone as meek as Penfold, that was truly an inspiration.

But Penfold didn't just love Danger Mouse's spirit in the sense that he loved Danger Mouse's daring and grandiosity. He also loved Danger Mouse's spirit, as in, his soul. Penfold loved Danger Mouse for Danger Mouse. Even if some of his flaws could be a little grating, Penfold loved every piece and part of his Chief.

Danger Mouse liked to put on a show for anyone who would look his way, but only a select few got to see the mouse under the "mask". Penfold was one of these select few, and it always filled him with such pride and joy to think that he was one of the few people Danger Mouse loved and trusted enough to be vulnerable with.

Granted, Danger Mouse still wasn't very vulnerable or open, but Penfold had seen his Chief down in the dumps before. Penfold had seen Danger Mouse at his lowest and most lost and hopeless. Although they were memories Danger Mouse looked back on in embarrassment, Penfold cherished them, because each moment was a symbol of Danger Mouse's trust in him.

Penfold didn't just like the loud and proud, large and in charge Danger Mouse. He also liked the scared and doubtful Danger Mouse, the one who made mistakes and didn't always know how to be a hero. He liked the vulnerable side of Danger Mouse, because it was in that part of his spirit that his true loves were revealed. Only for the things he really loved would Danger Mouse ever get scared. Penfold was one of those things.

ooo

"Chief?" Penfold stuck his little head into the Danger Lounge. Danger Mouse was sitting inside, alone, and looking quite defeated.

"Hello, Penfold," came a very un-Danger Mouse voice. It sounded heavy and sad, instead of confident and cheerful.

"Crikey, Chief! What's happened to ya?" the hamster ran inside and placed a hand on the mouse's hunched back.

"Oh, nothing, Penfold," came the labored sigh. "I just don't feel very much myself today..."

Penfold spent the next few minutes trying to get Danger Mouse to open up. It took a while, but, eventually, Danger Mouse cracked.

"I just worry that all of this is meaningless, Penfold! No matter how many times we save the day, it never stays saved for very long! Am I just not as good of a hero as I think? Why else would so many of my rivals keep escaping prison?"

Danger Mouse didn't say very much, it wasn't in his nature to be so up front about his feelings, but to Penfold, he'd said more than enough. Penfold's heart went out to his Chief. He felt touched that Danger Mouse had confided in him, but he was sad to think how heavily these worries were weighing upon the poor mouse's shoulders. His instincts begged him to reach out and hug Danger Mouse, but because Penfold knew Danger Mouse wasn't a fan of physical affection, he managed to restrain himself.

"Oh, Chief, you know none of this is your fault! It's the show writers! It's their fault your enemies keep conveniently breaking out of jail, even though you do such a great job of capturing them! You do your best, Chief! No one can doubt that! Besides, I thought you liked the danger!"