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It seemed that all Duke did nowadays was lay in his bed. It had been a week since he had his falling out with his parents. On that day Duke felt drained and every day since the weasel felt empty. The whole point of going to college was to carry out the family tradition and hopefully make his father finally proud. But now that he was disowned completely there was no point in the weasel's eyes. Travis was out of the dorm, in one of his classes, leaving the weasel to sulk in his own feelings. He would go to his classes but just to do the bare minimum. Once they were over Duke would slink back into his dorm and climb into bed. Brayden would invite him to parties but the weasel didn't even see a point in going to those either.

But night was a time that gave Duke some motivation. In those quiet focused moments, slinking through streets and alleyways, all the rage he felt inside was finally unleashed on the night's target. But the next morning those feelings of failure and doubt came crawling back, leaving Duke right where he started. When the job was done, money came into their accounts. It was money that Duke started to use to dull the pain he felt. Just a month ago Duke would drink only in a party setting, surrounded by loud music and even louder sounds of laughter and cheers of delight. But now the weasel downed alcohol purely to drown out his father's echoing words.

Travis pointed out how often Duke was getting drunk and expressed his growing concern. As much as Duke enjoyed the buzz it gave him, he listened to his boyfriend's words and made an effort to cut back on them. But once Duke was alone once again those feelings came creeping back and he refrained from turning to the drink to make them go away. Instead he sought out something else to help him. For the first time in a while Duke left the dorm and sought out his friend Brayden. The zebra was glad to see his friend once again and listened to the weasel's issues and whispered in his ear a new way to escape the plights of life. Duke returned to the dorm with an eagerness to test out Brayden's recommendation.

Travis hummed a tune to himself as he returned to his dorm. After sliding his card and seeing the light change the ferret stepped into the room and was met with Duke frantically putting stuffing something inside the desk.

"Hey, Travis. Glad you're back!"

Travis gave a small smile to the weasel, pretending not to notice what he just saw. "Duke. It's good to see ya out of bed." He took off his backpack and placed it by the door. He stepped forward and closed the door behind him. All the while Duke stood in place, making sure to keep standing in front of the desk's compartment.

"Yeah, I've been feeling much better lately," Duke quickly answered.

"Oh, really?" Travis tilted his head and stepped closer to the weasel. "That's good to hear. Cause ya know... It's been a while.." He raised his paw Duke's muzzle, gently petting his fur. A small purr-like noise came from the weasel. Travis took his other paw to reach under Duke's shirt and stroke his chest fur as well. "Hasn't it?"

"Y-yeah.." Warmth and shudders traveled through the weasel, making his thoughts foggy. "It has been."

"Well, why'd don't you--Aha!" In one swift motion Duke used his paw on Duke's chest to push him off balance and his other paw lunged forward to the knob of the desk's compartment drawer. Before Duke could say anything the ferret pulled it open. Inside was a bag of green clumps and a small box of rolling papers.

"Duke! I can't believe you!" Travis turned around and pointed a paw at the sweating mammal.

"Look, Trav. I...I can explain!"

"I can't believe that you would hide something like this from me," Travis shook his head and pulled the items out of the drawer. "It's been so long since I've smoked. Why didn't ya tell me you bought grass?"

"Wait, what?!" Duke was stunned to see the blackfoot hunched over the desk, sprinkling the dried plant onto a roll. "Y-you mean that you've..."

"Of course I have. I told you that..." Travis turned to Duke. "Didn't I?"

Still stunned, Duke watched as Travis licked the paper and began to roll it tight. "Where would you even get some back then?"

"Uh, we grew it. Well, Gid actually grew it. We had our own hidden spot not too far from the creek. That was the first time I ever got high. And we spent the whole summer doing it," a laugh came for the ferret and he handed the joint to Duke. "Here ya go."

Duke grabbed and held it in his fingers, looking down at it with a confused look.

"You do know how to-"

"Yeah, yeah. Well, no...I don't." Duke sighed and set it back on the desk. "Can you show me how?"

"Sure, Duke." The weasel watched closely as Travis showed him what to do along with how to light and smoke it. Duke was impressed, wondering if Travis was really the wilder one of the both of them.

Thanks to Brayden the weasel now had a guy he could buy from on campus and thanks to Travis he knew just how to use it. And use he did. Whenever he wasn't in class or didn't have anywhere else to be, Duke was usually found in the dorm, laying back on his bed and getting high. It was like that for the next two weeks. Travis would join in from time to time but of course would be gone to attend his classes and other things.

But after those two weeks something changed. Travis came back into the dorm with more food to last them for a while but there was a frown on his muzzle. "Hey, Duke. Look, I know you got this whole thing going on and you're trying to find yourself but maybe you can do your part towards the rent next time?" In response Duke just gave a lazy nod. "I'm serious, Duke. You can't just spend all your money on weed and beer and just leave me to pay the rent."

"I got it next time. Don't worry," Blowing another cloud in the air, Duke made a motion with his paw as some sort of confirmation.

"I think you should cut back," Travis suggested, waving a paw in the air. "We're already taking a risk by drinking and smoking but you're gonna get the smell stuck in the beds."

In response the weasel gave another lazy nod and motion with his paw, getting lost in the clouds.

***

Duke groaned and ran his claws through his fur. His math class had a test that completely slipped his mind. The whole class was just Duke trying to remember a single thing he learned the last few weeks but nothing came to his mind. While it seemed that everyone else was breezing through it, eventually getting up one by one to turn in their tests; the weasel was sitting in his seat, wondering just how much this test would tank his grade.

First thinking about his grades led Duke's thoughts to his future in general. A new thought struck him: What did it matter? Does it really matter to him if his grades tank? There was no one he had to work hard to impress and there was nothing for him to gain but debt. After this was all said and done his family wouldn't come to his graduation and he couldn't go back home either. So what was all this stressing out for? Words on a piece of paper? The jobs he did at night paid better than any dead end nine-to-five would ever get him. All the weasel really cared about at this point was retiring to his dorm and smoking his stresses away.

Maybe I can even get Travis to join me, without a lecture first. He's really been on my case lately. We're making good money. I can buy weed and still have enough for the rent, just relax a little.

Once Duke had finished venting to himself he looked around to see he was one of the few animals left in the class. He knew that it wouldn't be good for his paper to be the first one the professor saw so he got up and marched down to place it on the stack of other turned in tests. Without any second thoughts and a confidence in his stride the weasel walked out of that classroom and made a beeline for the freshman building.

Travis was returning from his agriculture class, walking up the stairs to the floor he and Duke lived on. Upon approaching his room the ferret's began to twitch and he took a quick sniff at the air.

"Duke..." Travis groaned his name and pulled his ID out of his pocket. With a click the door was unlocked. The ferret wasted no time dashing into the dorm and slamming the door shut.

"Duke!"

"Hey, Trav!" The weasel was laying on the actual floor, thick clouds and a strong smell permeating in the air.

"What is all this? Why is it so smokey and why is the smell so strong?"

"Oh, it bought a different kind. I told the guy I needed something stronger and this is what he gave me... I feel like I'm floating," Duke chuckled, reaching a paw up and swinging it through the smoke.

"Well, you can smell that stuff from the staircase. It's only a matter of time before we're caught and they find us here in a hotbox!" The ferret's southern accent was thick as he was flung in panic, seeing his whole academic future flashing before his eyes.

"Hey, hey. Relax, Trav. Come on, let down with me. If you take a hit of this you'll feel much better," Duke grinned, smoke escaping through his fangs.

"I don't know..."

"Come on, Travis. What are the chances anyone's gonna catch us? You know they're always looking for the seniors," those words managed to get a chuckle out of the ferret. Travis looked around the room and back at the door, seeing that it was locked. He dropped his backpack to the floor and laid on the ground beside the weasel. He took the joint that Duke handed him and found himself thinking of the old days when he and Gideon would do that same thing. His Dad was often gone for work and they would just lay around all day smoking and eating junk food.

Travis took it in long and slow. Duke was right, this was much different from the usual. He almost instantly felt a lightness start from his head to the rest of his body. Soon both short mammals were giggling to themselves and floating on the carpet.

"Heh. You wanna know something?" Duke looked over to Travis who looked back at him.

"What?"

"I love you," Duke said before laughing a bit.

"Ya do?"

"Yeah, seriously. I know I've been acting all crazy lately but I've been going through...stuff lately. I know I'm only making things harder for you," Duke admitted, passing it back to Travis.

The ferret held the joint in his paw. "I don't think I fully understand but I'm here for ya, Duke." He took another sharp inhale and held onto the smoke for a few seconds before letting it back out.

"Heh. Thanks, Trav. I wanna make it up to you."

"How are you gonna do that?" The ferret asked, his eyes half closed. His question was quickly answered by the weasel's paw tugging at his shorts.

"It's like you said: It's been a while, huh?" Duke chuckled and rolled over on top of the blushing ferret.

"T-that's a pretty good way of apologizing," the blackfoot stammered. Duke pressed closer, meeting their muzzles together in a kiss. All the while he slipped both paws under Travis' shirt, gently running his claw tips through his fur. Through the kiss Travis gave a groan of pleasure. It had been too long since he felt the weasel's touch.

Slowly Duke slunk lower and lower down Travis' lithe frame until he was face to face with the ferret's band keeping his shorts up. With a sly grin and a quick glance at the blushing ferret's face Duke grabbed hold of the band and pulled it down.

Unbeknownst to the two of them a security guard was making his rounds and figured that the freshman building was long overdue. Everything seemed perfectly fine on the first two floors. But once he reached the first floor something struck him as off. There was a distinct smell in the air. The uniformed wolf raised his nose in the air and followed the scent back to its source. There was a door where the scent was strongest, pressing close to the door the wolf's ear picked up other noises inside the dorm. The wolf thought for a moment and figured that it would be best for him to make his presence known rather than just opening the door with his own key. He balled his paw and knocked it against the door three times.

"What was that?" The two short animals were interrupted by the noises coming from the door.

"This is security! Open up!" Both Duke and Travis rose from the ground and frantically grabbed their shorts and did their best to slip them on.

"W-what do we do now?" Travis frantically looked around at all the smoke that surrounded them.

"I don't know!" The shirtless weasel ran to the window of the room and opened it. "Maybe we can climb out of the window."

"If we do, we're gonna need new legs," the stoned ferret shook his head.

"Alright. Alright. Maybe he'll be cool about it," Duke whimpered. "We don't have anything else we can do."

Travis held his breath as Duke stumbled over his shirt still lying on the ground and gripped the door knob. The weasel took a deep breath and slowly opened the door to reveal the wolf standing in the door frame. Slowly Travis came forward to stand beside the weasel, looking up at the wolf looming over them.

"Uh, hey. Is there any way we can help you?" Duke's voice wavered and he fought hard to keep himself from shaking. There was still tons of smoke in the air along with the smell being impossible to notice. Both Duke and Travis were sure that they were done for.

"Who lives here?" It was a simple question that came from the wolf's lips, but it made the weasel's blood run cold and his high quickly ebb away.

"W-we both do," Travis answered honestly. He saw no reason to lie and make everything worse. The ferret hoped that maybe if they were just honest and told the truth there could be a chance that they would get off with just a warning.

"Oh really, now?" The wolf tilted his head and in a swift motion he grabbed both of the mustelids. Travis was held by the back of his shirt in the wolf's left paw and Duke was lifted by his scruff in the wolf's right paw.

"Hey! What are you doing! Let me go!" Duke struggled against the wolf grip with no results coming from it. All the while Travis just dangled from the back of his shirt, accepting what was happening. The wolf carried both of them in each paw, closing the dorm door with his foot and turning to take them away.

"This is..." Travis stamped his paw on the sidewalk and pointed at Duke. "All your fault!"

Duke just turned away from the ferret's gaze, tapping his paw on the ground.

"It's over! Everything we worked for is over!" There was a small stone on the sidewalk that Travis growled and kicked. "What am I gonna say to my folks?!"

"You tell them what happened." Duke spoke with a low and cold tone. "You got kicked out."

"That's all you have to say? The weed you bought got into this mess and you don't have anything to say about it"

"Well, no one forced you to join in. You can't just blame me for all of this.." Duke turned around to face Travis once again and pointed a paw at him.

"Duke! Why are you acting like you care about this? What about all your family tradition?"

The weasel balled his paws and glared at the yelling ferret. "It doesn't matter anymore! None of it does! It's over, Travis..." Travis heard Duke's words and lowered his own paws. The weasel was right in that sense, it was over. There was nothing he could do now.

Duke raised his head just in time to see Travis glare at him and walk away. Duke knew he would have to come back, get his things and move back to Bunnyburrow. But as for him... There was nowhere for him to go. The only thing he brought with him was clothes and drinks that were long gone. Watching Travis walk away and not even glance back once really made it sink in for the weasel. Travis wasn't coming back and he was kicked out of college. What was left for him? Where could he go? With a small sniff Duke turned around and walked down the sidewalk, thinking of what exactly he should do next.

***

Travis hummed to himself as he wiped down the front counter in Gideon's shop. There was a small smile on his muzzle and a lighten in his steps that day. He greeted each customer warmly and made sure that every little need they had was met. Gideon had noticed the change in his friend and the extra pep in his step.

"You've been real peppy around here," Gideon chuckled to his best friend, placing another set of cookies on the display shelf.

A small blush crept up Travis' muzzle and he gave an awkward chuckle. "Y-yeah. I met up with an old friend from college last night. It was pretty nice."

Gideon gave a small nod, glad that his friend was in such a good mood. For a while he saw the ferret moping about from time to time. But now, Travis carried an energy similar to when they were young in Bunnyburrow. It was nice to see the ferret interacting with the customers with a sense of calm and confidence. There were times when he felt bad for Travis, knowing it must be rough for the ferret seeing those around him living their dreams. He and Judy were happy together, as was Nick and Finnick. Even Bogo and Clawhauser had gotten married. During their wedding was the saddest state he saw Travis in for a long time. But now he seemed to be in an exact opposite state. The burly fox only hoped that the happiness of his friend lasted.

The bell above the shop door rang, signaling the friends that they had another customer.

"Welcome! What can I get--" The ferret's greeting was cut short upon seeing who exactly walked into the bakery.

A snicker came from the patron as he pointed to the display case. "Yeah, let me get the twelve double chocolate chips."

"D-Duke?" Travis gasped, looking back at the smirking weasel. "What are you doing here?"

Another laugh came from the weasel, he stepped back from the counter and placed a paw on his hip. "What? I just heard from the grapevine that this is a great place to get something sweet."

Travis couldn't help but smile even wider, moving to the register to ring up the desserts. With a few clicks there were all there and ready to be paid for.

"Well, that'll be twenty-four dollars and ninety-nine cents," Travis stated.

"No problem." Duke said confidently, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a twenty and a five.

Travis took the money and accounted for his change. Meanwhile Gideon was preparing the order, placing the cookies carefully in a small bag. He said nothing the entire exchange, just focusing on the task. He couldn't trust himself not to say something to the weasel. It wasn't forgotten that Duke was the very same weasel that had broken into and robbed his shop a while ago. The fox noticed that he and Travis were on friendly terms and even remembered the ferret lamenting still having feelings for the weasel in question. Gideon decided it wasn't his place to say anything, figuring that as long as Duke actually paid for whatever he wanted then there would be no trouble for anyone.

At the same time Travis handed Duke his change, Gideon placed the bag of cookies next to the register. He gave a Duke a stern look, but still said nothing, walking away to the kitchen.

Duke said nothing, but his face said it all. Slowly reaching forward he picked up the bag and gave a sigh. "I deserve that at the very least..."

Travis couldn't bring himself to say anything on the contrary, knowing that robbing the very bakery they were standing in was what led to Duke's arrest. At the very least, Travis was glad that Duke actually paid for what he wanted this time. He was also glad Gideon held his tongue, knowing fully well that the fox would have more than a few choice words.

But even so, Travis didn't like seeing the downtrodden look on the weasel's face. Despite what may have been right at the time, Travis smiled. "Hey, I get off at five. If you want we can do something after that. Let's meet at the bench just like last time."

Upon hearing that, Duke's ears perked and his whole demeanor shifted for the better. A smile spread on his muzzle and his eyes had an excited glow to them. "S-sure, I'll be waiting for you." He decided it was best that he leave and get ready for another night on the town. With one final wave he stepped out of the shop, the bell signaling his departure.

Travis gave a small sigh, embracing the silence creeping within the shop. Only after a few moments did Gideon return with an unreadable expression on his face. Standing in the exact place before, he leaned back against the counter and gave a sigh before looking back at Travis.

"It's alright, Gid." Travis reassured. "You don't have to like him."

As soon as the words registered in the fox's mind it was as if a weight was lifted from his shoulders. Gideon stood a bit taller and now his face showed a mix of concern and the same stern look he gave the weasel earlier. "But you like him, don't you?"

Knowing exactly what Gideon was referring to, the ferret nodded. It was something he had already accepted within himself. He had fallen in love with the weasel all over again. Just seeing him in the bakery sent him on some kind of mental trip and he was compelled to see him after work. Even knowing that he would see Duke after work, there was still an impatience within the ferret. Now it was all he could think about.

Gideon crossed his arms and thought for a moment. "Look, Trav. I'll always have your back and stick with ya through thick and thin. But I think you should be a little careful, not move too fast. You can't forget he was locked up just three weeks ago."

Travis nodded again but the feeling within him didn't falter for a second. His attention was now on the fox, knowing he was only speaking from a place of genuine concern. But he still wanted to believe that Duke was on a path to changing, he could just somehow feel it. There was something about Duke now, something that feels just like it did in college.

"Don't worry, Gid. I'll keep a lookout for anything like that. It's just...I don't know. Something feels different this time," Travis asserted. His statement didn't move the fox at all, but he held his tongue, deciding it was best to just wait on the back burner and just be ready to swoop in whenever his friend needed him.

The time had finally come and Travis had made sure to do everything he needed to ahead of time. All that was left for him to do was clock out. Gideon was how fidgety the ferret was but said nothing, figuring that at the very least Travis deserved something good in his life just like everyone else. After clocking out Travis all but burst out of the bakery's front door. Feeling his heart racing, Travis located his bike and undid the lock on it. After climbing on top the ferret pedaled as hard as he could towards the park, hardly being able to stand the wait.

At the same time Duke was waiting on the very same park bench that started their last date. It was five o'clock exactly and the weasel waited patiently, knowing it would take a while for Travis to arrive. He used that time to think of what he should do with Travis, where he should take him. He still had plenty of money left to do whatever either of them wanted. He was sure that by time he ran out their connection would be as solid as it used to be. At least that's how it felt to him. Something about seeing Travis at the bakery was just like coming back to their old dorm and finding him in the middle of studying for some test that was a whole week away.

Duke missed those days and it pained him that he wouldn't be able to make something like that ever again. But he also carried a new hope that he could make something new or even better than back then. Something that would be as if they never broke up, if their bond only got stronger and stronger. It was a thought that held firm in the weasel's mind for years, having the happy forever life with Travis. And now he saw his chance to not only make up for the past, but to ensure a future that he could give Travis everything he should have had in the first place. Sure, he couldn't get the ferret the degree he was aiming for but the weasel was determined to get him everything else.

His ears flicked, hearing a bike approaching. He looked up and his breath nearly caught in his throat seeing Travis approaching. His heart began to pound, seeing the clearly excited look on the ferret's muzzle. It was a look that Duke wanted to preserve his entire life. And if he played it right from now on he could do that. Travis stepped off the bike and took a moment to catch his breath.

"Heh, that was fast," Duke teased, looking at the park clock that read five o' seven.

"Sorry, I was just...really excited to get here," Travis admitted, a dreamy tone in his voice that made the weasel shudder. It really was like all those years ago...Or maybe even better.

"So, where do you wanna go?" Duke asked eagerly, looking around the park.

"Actually...I've been wanting to see your place for a while," Travis admitted with a bit of shyness in his voice. Upon hearing that Duke's heart began to race, but not because of anything romantic. As Travis turned around to lock up his bike Duke was right behind him freaking out.

What the hell do I do now? Duke panicked. I can't take him back home, he can't see anything like that. If he sees that then...

Duke was about to open his mouth and come up with an excuse but something stopped him.

This is exactly what led to you losing him in the first place. You can't keep lying to him...

A deep exhale escaped the weasel's lips as he stood up from the bench. He gazed into Travis' eyes and held out his paw. "Y-yeah...I'll take you there..."

Travis felt his muzzle flush with heat as he took Duke's paw into his own. The weasel led him out of the park and down the main street. While there walking Travis was looking around at the many shops and lights of the main downtown district of Zootopia. But Duke ignored everything else beside Travis and what could possibly happen when he saw the truth.

The ferret was surprised when Duke led him into a narrow alleyway. Duke held firmly onto Travis' paw as they walked past shattered bottles, broken items and old mattresses. That alley led into another, the one Duke resided. Pushing past some old boxes and turning the corner brought them to their destination. Travis was shocked as he was led through a large hole in the old building rather than the front door. Inside he was met with an old decaying living room. He couldn't make out what color the floor or walls were supposed to be and the only real things in the room were an old, faded couch, an even older looking tv and the pile of Duke's clothes on the floor next to the couch.

"Here it is..." Duke huffed, raising his arms. In response the ferret said nothing, something Duke expected but was also afraid of. He never wanted Travis to see something like this but deep down inside he knew that he had to show Travis the truth.

Travis looked around the decrepit living room in utter shock, struggling to find the words. "Y-you live here?"

"Yeah, well...It's the best thing I can do right now..." Duke admitted. "I didn't want you to see this, but I didn't want to lie to you, either." His head hung low, looking at the cracked, rotten wood of the floor.

"You really live like this?" Travis asked, looking back at the weasel. Duke nodded slowly, raising his gaze to meet the ferret's. "Well then...You're coming back home with me."

"Wait, what?!" Duke stammered, not believing what he was hearing.

"You're coming to live with me. There's no way I'm just gonna let you live like this!" Travis stomped his foot. "I'll help you get your stuff. We can put it all on my bike and bring it back to my place."

Duke didn't know what to say, simply standing in place. But after a few seconds he collected himself and gave a small smile.

"T-thanks, Travis. R-really, I appreciate this," Duke sniffed.

With the help of Travis he gathered his clothes, folding them up to be moved.

"If you live here then how did you get money?" Travis asked.

"I, uh...Did some things I'm not exactly proud of..." Duke admitted, picking up as many clothes as he could. Travis didn't ask any further but could see the shame in the weasel's eyes. Now the ferret was even more determined to get Duke out of here and under an actual roof.

Duke led the way back out of the alleyway around the discarded boxes and threw out mattresses. Together they made their way back towards the park and Travis' bike. There were a few eyes on them as they loaded the bike up as best as they could. With Travis leading the way this time, Duke followed behind with a few clothes in his paws back to the small apartment complex Travis lived in.