Dylan stumbled from class to class the next morning, bags under his eyes, mind miles away in no place at all. It had not been a restful night, and the dread of seeing Benny again only made his chest ache.

The fugue would not last forever, however. Gym class was just before lunch...

***

"Gods damn. That's pathetic," Wilt sneered, shaking his head, making his whole neck shake, as well. "You guys seeing this?"

"There's a fog bank down here, give us a minute," Paul replied with a snicker that made his jowls shake.

"That is one big-ass cloud coming this way," Imp smirked, gesturing with a hoofed paw.

"Moving about as fast, too," Lex laughed, baring his claws briefly.

Tyr smirked wickedly. "Watch this, guys." He darted away silently, flanking his prey.

Dylan, eyes on his feet, didn't notice there was anything amiss until the claws were digging into his shoulders and a voice hissed in his ear "Hello, Stay-Puft."

Tyr steered Dylan over to stand in front of the rest of his group, all looking dangerously amused. "See us this time, Stay-Puft? Don't want you trying to step on us again."

The group guffawed loudly at this.

The cruel nickname hit him close to his heart. Through gritted teeth, he spat "Fuck you, you dumb-ass piece of shit."

Like a candle being snuffed out, the noise in the immediate area died instantly. The group gaped at the one who had dared speak so brazenly to their faces.

Tyr dug his claws further into Dylan's shoulders, piercing his shirt and skin. Spots of blood bloomed on his white fur. "I'm sorry. I must've misheard you. Care to repeat that, fat boy?"

Dylan looked around at the group, making glaring eye contact with each one as he said "You're all useless fucking wastes of space. You detract from society as a whole by continuing to exist. No one likes any of you, so you've all got to sit around jerking each other-"

At this point he was cut off when a rock-hard fist collided with his stomach, driving the air from his lungs in a whoosh. Paul was trembling with rage, growling from deep in his chest. "No, fuck you, you fat sack of shit."

Lex lashed out, striking him across the face, leaving red slashes on his cheek. "Big mistake, runt."

Imp backhanded him the other way, making his jaw clack and stars explode in his vision. "We're going to bury you in a litter box, tubby."

Wilt picked him up, shook him. "The bigger they are..."

The giraffe dropped Dylan. The cat barely had time to register this before there was a sickening crunch.

Then all was dead silent again.

He looked down. That black leg definitely was not his.

He turned around. Tyr was sitting behind him, staring at him in wide-eyed shock. "You fucking broke my fucking leg! You walking garbage-disposal piece of bloated cock-sucking mother-humping ass!"

With this last word, the wolf, snarling, lashed out and cold-cocked Dylan, square on the chin.

His eyes rolled back in his head, and he collapsed into blackness.

Tyr unsuccessfully gave his prone form a shove. "Well, don't just stand there, you deadbeats! Get dead weight off of me!" He spat at his friends.

Suddenly, the fieldhouse was a bustle of activity. Coaches were blowing their whistles, people were crowding around, screaming, murmuring. Everything started to go hot and dark for Tyr, and he swayed, but gritted his teeth and held on.

Ambulances were called upon seeing the condition each boy was in. A preliminary exam revealed Tyr's leg was definitely broken; how badly was yet to be seen. Dylan was out cold, but besides the obvious, no more injuries could yet be determined.

Gym classes were dismissed early, and as the boys were loaded into the ambulances, the rest of the classes sat in the locker room discussing the events.

Wilt felt rather guilty about what he had done- to Tyr. Paul was angry at "the fat kid", as he called him, not knowing or caring to know his real name, for starting it. Lex and Imp were worried about Tyr and how Cassie would react. She had a real mean streak.

Cassie hadn't witnessed the event, slacking off and smoking in the bathroom as usual, but when she had learned the truth from one of her own devout followers, she had dramatically rushed out of the school to "lend Tyr her aid" at the hospital.

Benny heard the story from a freshman who had seen it, reverently describing Dylan as "a real geek hero". Any temptation to laugh died again, replaced with leaden guilt and worry. Had he made Dylan suicidal? What the hell was the cat thinking?

***

Tyr woke up in his hospital bed with his entire left leg in a cast. The whole experience was kind of a blur. But here was Cassie, lovely, faithful Cassie, waiting by his bed.

"Hey, sexamander," he grinned easily. "Are you sure I'm not in Heaven? Definitely looking at an angel."

Cassie squealed and embraced him, burying her head in his chest. "Oh, Tyr! I was so worried when I heard what happened! The doctor's said you'd be alright, and I know you're a fighter, but I couldn't help but worry."

Tyr chuckled warmly. "Haha, thanks, babe. All I could think of was how worried you were going to be. But I knew you'd be strong, for me."

They kissed briefly, then broke apart.

Cassie shoved a yearbook into his paws. "Show me who did this to you, Tyr. I'll arrange everything."

Tyr grinned, touched. "Awesome, babe. You think of everything." He began to flip through the yearbook.

"Just wait until tomorrow," Cassie giggled. "You'll be surprised, I think!"

Tyr studied the yearbook intently, frowning slightly. He never forgot the face of a foe. It was a habit of his to make them pay. Obviously, this one wouldn't play sports... So he'd take it off the field.

Finally, after several minutes, he paused on one particular page, frowning deeper. The resemblance wasn't exactly how he remembered... But yearbook photos were rarely flattering, his own excluded.

"Did you find the punk, hon?" Cassie asked, peering at the yearbook.

Tyr considered a moment longer, then nodded. He laid the book on his lap so Cassie could see and proclaimed, pointing at the picture, "That's him. Dylan Zalfos."

Cassie sneered as she looked over the picture. "Humph. Stupid geeks need to learn their place. I'll get the girls and boys on it. He'll be blacklisted, hon. As good as ghosted."

Tyr leaned back, nodding, and glared at the ceiling. "Good. But I want to be there with the boys."

Cassie had whipped her phone out of her purse, and her nimble, experienced fingers were already flying over the keyboard. "It'll be done, hun."

"I'm going to close my eyes, here, doll," Tyr sighed. "It's some heavy stuff they've put me on."

He drifted off. The clacking of the keyboard followed him into sleep.

***

Dylan came to, head heavy and muzzy. He felt odd, and as he raised his paws to his face, he felt that he was swaddled in bandages.

"Oh! Psst, Benny! He's up!" a voice squeaked.

By the time Dylan could get his head to turn, Benny was kneeling next to him, looking sorrowful. "Yo, Pickles. Heard about what happened. Tough break, man, but damn. Word is you told them off good."

Dylan slumped back, sighing. His face felt sort of numb, probably from whatever painkillers he was on. "I was kind of pissed, I guess. Damn jock-asses, thinking they can do whatever they want..."

"I feel you, man. We both do," Benny laughed, looking over his shoulder briefly. "And dude, the whole geek community in the school feels you. You're a hero now, yeah, Emi?"

Dylan looked past Benny and saw a petite squirrel girl with round glasses standing shyly behind him, paws clasped in front of her. She squeaked as if surprised at being addressed, and nodded vigorously.

"You were amazing! You gave those jocks a taste of the education they ignore!" She smiled, darting up to his bedside. Before he could react, she had leaned over and pecked him on his undamaged cheek, having to stand on tiptoes to do so. "It was so noble!"

Dylan blushed and chuckled humbly. "Oh, I dunno about that. Might've been more impressive if I wasn't in the hospital."

"Man, you should see the other guy!" Benny howled laughter before stifling himself. "Haha, sorry. Nurses don't like that."

"You put Tyr Rex in the hospital, too!" Emi cheered. "His leg is broken in three places."

"He'll be out of sports for a long time," Benny grinned, pausing to muffle hoots of laughter in his sleeve. "You may have single-handedly ended his career!"

The thought brought a little selfish joy to Dylan, and he smiled. "Heh. Maybe I am almost a hero."

Benny squeezed his paw and whispered quietly "Don't put too much into this, but... I know you're mine."

Dylan blushed, squeezed his paw back, and winked.

"Anyway, are you ready to go?" Benny asked louder, so Emi could hear.

"What? They don't want to keep me overnight? Or wait for my parents?" Dylan frowned, confused.

"They apparently got your parents on the horn, and they said it was okay if I signed you out, as long as I'm around to make sure you don't pass out, at least until they get home," Benny shrugged, then cackled. "So me and Emi will babysit you for a while."

Dylan rolled his eyes and proclaimed dramatically "Never mind! Leave me here!"

Emi and Benny shared a laugh over this, and Dylan joined in after a moment, too, pleased.

Benny and Emi helped Dylan up to his feet, and then the squirrel girl stepped out of the room and Benny turned his back as Dylan changed into his street clothes again.

Emi carried his backpack and Benny threw an arm around his shoulders for extra support as they made their way out of the hospital, signing out and wishing the nurses a good night.

While Emi went to get her car, which she had apparently driven Benny over in, the two boys talked.

"So, pretty cute, huh? I'd chase her up a tree, if you know what I mean," Benny snickered, nudging Dylan meaningfully.

Dylan blushed shyly. "I dunno. Guess I wasn't really looking..."

"I think she's sweet on you, already," Benny chuckled. "She was saying she was all impressed by your heroic, noble deeds, standing up for the geeks, and all."

"Phah, she's probably batty," Dylan scoffed, chuckling too. "More your style. She laugh with any of your jokes yet?"

"Several, I will have you know!" Benny sniffed haughtily, then laughed. "Seriously, though, you can have her first, if you want her. I know that sounds awful, but you know what I mean. It wasn't me she came to see, is what I'm saying."

Dylan nodded thoughtfully. Maybe he should try dating her. It ought to get his mind right. Out an end to the weird dreams and strange thoughts about Benny...

"Thanks, Benny. She's probably got cute girlfriends, you know," he grinned, nudging the hyena back.

Benny grinned at the thought. "Nerd chicks, yeah? Awesome."

Emi pulled up in her car then, an older model, but sturdy-looking sedan. It was obviously in good repair, probably passed down through her family. Undoubtedly at least a hundred thousand miles on it already, but it would serve until she had her own.

Benny helped Dylan into the front seat, despite the cat's protests, then hopped into the back. With Dylan providing directions, they drove to his house, swinging through a Taco Terrain drive-through first, at Emi's insistence, where she bought them all a good meal.

At Dylan's house, they watched a couple episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and showed Emi their cookbook. She found it rather exciting, and wanted to try something out. So for dessert, they all had Oreo-doughnut "sandwiches" and strawberry milkshakes. Emi seemed enamored of the idea.

At about quarter to eleven, after they had enjoyed a few particularly side-splitting online video reviews, Emi said "Well, I should probably be getting home. It was very nice meeting you Benny and Dylan."

"Yeah, pleasure to meetcha, too!" Benny grinned, then giggled, kicking Dylan so he'd get the hint.

"Ow! Er, let me see you out, Emi," Dylan said, jumping a bit. He hoisted himself up, shot a mock glare at Benny, who only winked, and escorted the squirrel girl to the door.

They paused on the step outside for a moment. "It was fun meeting you, and thanks for supper," Dylan smiled.

"I had fun, too," Emi nodded, beaming back. "Thank you for dessert."

"Oh, er, anytime!" Dylan said, surprised. "Didn't really think anyone besides me and Benny would enjoy that sort of stuff, heh."

"Oh, well, you two came up with a lot of interesting stuff, actually," Emi chuckled lightly. She paused for a moment, as if trying to think of something else to say, then settled on "Okay, I'll get going now. See you Monday!"

"Alright, bye!" Dylan said, waving her off.

The squirrel girl darted to her car, waving as she got behind the wheel, and took off.

Dylan watched her go, then looked up to the starry night sky, thinking. She was nice enough, certainly... Could she help fix him? He thought so.

"So, got a date anytime soon?" Benny asked as soon as Dylan walked back into the living room.

Dylan rolled his eyes. "No. If I decide to date her, I'd take it a bit slow. Shows I'm careful, like."

"But the bandages say dangerous," Benny said dramatically, then cackled. "Seriously, though, I'm happy for you, Marshmallow. You deserve it."

Dylan felt his cheeks color a little. "Thanks, Benny. I'll help you get set up with somebody nice someday. I know this mortician, see..."

Benny just laughed and threw a pillow at him.

Dylan took it in the chest good-naturedly, and they sat down together to watch some television.

As the clock neared midnight, Dylan asked, stretching, "So what time are you supposed to be home?"

"Oh, my parents said I could spend the night," Benny shrugged. "And I'm supposed to keep an eye on you anyway, so don't be going to bed just yet. Doctor's orders."

Dylan stuck out his tongue at him as he got up. "Bleh. Well, I'm getting a snack, you want something?"

"Well, maybe I'd better make myself something," Benny said guiltily. "Not that I don't trust you, I mean, just that... er, I should be watching my figure, yeah?"

Dylan, feeling guilty now for his own cravings, nodded. "Oh. Yeah. I understand."

"I mean- damn it, I didn't mean any offense," Benny said quickly. "It's not like you look bad. You don't. It's just- er, it's, like, not my style, you know?" He barked a short bit of helpless laughter, embarrassed.

"Really, it's fine," Dylan sighed. "I get it. I'm not offended, don't worry..."

Benny, nodding, dropped it, and they each got themselves a snack.

As they sat on the couch several minutes later, Benny rolled up the bag of chips he'd been eating out of and asked nervously "Hey, uh, Dylan? Is it your kind of thing? Being, er, bigger, I mean?"

Dylan blushed and chewed his mouthful of cookies slowly, choosing his answer carefully. "Well, I don't really think it is. But, I mean, I'm, like used to it. It doesn't bother me, if that's what you were wondering."

"Well, yeah, okay, sort of," Benny admitted, squirming. "See, it's just, well... Ah, never mind... Probably shouldn't talk about it. Yeah?" Again, he tittered nervously.

"Yeah, right, s'pose we'd best not..." Dylan agreed, chest tightening at the thought. "Big-Lipped Alligator Moment..."

Benny chuckled. "Heh, yeah. For the best."

Dylan's parents soon returned, entering the house with a minimum of ceremony. After saying hello, making sure Dylan was alright, and telling him they'd look into what could be done about it, they bid the boys goodnight and headed to their bedroom.

"My parents have gotten to be the same way..." Benny said a moment after hearing Dylan's small sigh. "Won't talk about what they do at work anymore, either. It's... weird, you know?"

Dylan nodded as he sat back down next to Benny on the couch. "Yeah, it's sort of cool, at first, but... This sounds weird, but I worry about them. Guess I'm pretty much used to it by now."

Benny nodded too, sighing. "I worry, too. Guess that means were maturing, huh?"

Dylan thought about the roil of emotions he felt right now. Benny was right. Possibly dating, getting beaten up, the future, his weight... New situations, and frightening, sometimes. But he couldn't let it get the best of him.

He reached out and smacked Benny on the back of the head lightly as he drank, causing him to nearly spit his soda out through his nose. "Nah."

Benny swallowed his soda and laughed, eyes twinkling in the glow reflected from the television. "Butt."

They both giggled and snorted at this, then went back to watching television, happy and secure in their friendship.

A bit before three o' clock, after almost drifting off repeatedly, they decided it was time for bed. Generally, Benny slept out on the couch. So when Dylan found the hyena following him to his room, he had to speak up.

"Lost, Benny? Couch is the opposite way."

"Nah, man, doctor's orders. Gotta keep a close watch on you, so I should sleep in your bedroom. Unless you think we can both fit on the couch," Benny snickered quietly.

"I don't think we can both fit in my bedroom," Dylan grumbled. "You'll have to sleep on the floor, then."

"Aw, c'mon, man, your bed's big enough," Benny pleaded.

Dylan fought the color rising to his cheeks and looked back at him, pausing with his paw on the doorknob. "Are you sure you- you're okay with that? I mean, 'cause, like, I'm fine with it. We're mature enough to handle it."

Benny nodded, grinning a little. "Yeah, man, of course. It's a non-issue. I'm cool with it. Like you said, we're mature. We can handle it."

Dylan looked away, sighed, and turned his doorknob. "Alright. C'mon in, then. But I get right side."

"Okay, sweet, thanks!" Benny whispered, snuffling a chortle through his nose.

Dylan's room was fairly small and usually messy. The door was located in one corner of his room. His bed was shoved into the other. In front of the door, leaving just enough room to get it open, was his computer desk and desktop PC. There was a wardrobe and a window between the desk and the bed. Shoved into the space on the side of the door, across from the bed, was a dresser and a laundry hamper. Scattered on the floor were more dirty clothes than the hamper held.

"Sorry, I do all my own laundry now, so it doesn't matter where I leave it," Dylan muttered apologetically.

"Feels like home," Benny joked, shutting the door behind him as he stepped in.

They picked their way across the floor, Dylan kicking dirty clothes aside, over to the bed. "You get on first, unless you want to crawl over me," the cat gestured.

Benny crawled carefully onto the double bed and lay down on his back. The wall was a bit close for comfort, but it was only one night...

With a groaning of springs and a sudden shifting of weight, Dylan laid down on the bed on his side, facing away from Benny.

The hyena rolled into the back of his friend with a soft smack, quickly scrambling away. "Sorry, wasn't expecting that."

"It's fine..." Dylan replied, blushing slightly. "Good night."

Benny yawned, closing his eyes. "Yeah. Good night."

Tiredness overtook them both, sending them off to peaceful sleep.