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*Hey! Been a bit of time, hasn't it? Well, here we go yet again! Hope you all enjoy the chapter...will get the next to you sooner or later! *

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"Uggrurhrhhh,"

Chris jumped at the sound a bit, looking over at the origin and catching a whiff of dark dark coffee as he did. Ben's expression was, well, not one he had ever really seen before and he didn't know how to classify it. His father never looked this bad in the mornings--or well, this dead perhaps was best to say. Ben's eyes were still open through slits, and he stumbled about blindly in the kitchen.

"Uggrughrh...humph!" Ben let out, growling this time to clear his throat. He gave a small glanced over at the black mass of fur in the corner of his vision, "You want some breakfast?"

It didn't sound very question-like, then again, the words ran together near the end, like it was just one big sentence. After a second he did manage to nod. This was new. Ben had always seemed like such a morning person, but now it was like the bear was a zombie. A small hacking cough brought him out of his own slight morning stupor.

Catching himself on the counter, the bear continued to cough for a few moments, his eyes shut with the effort of it. When the spout was over he glanced over at Chris and gave the pup a small smirk, "I think your father's clothes detergent is making me act up,"

Chris unconsciously scratched at his shirt. It didn't affect him. And then he remembered. The bear had asthma. For a small moment he felt guilty about forgetting that fact, but the thought could hardly take note.

"So, what do you want for breakfast...I'm sure I can scrounge us up something...you know...sort of,"

More memories flooded. This time less painful, but still stinging. Cooking. The bear could not cook. At all. "Cereal. That would be good....yeah, just...milk and cereal," Chris replied, almost fumbling over the words--wondering in the back of his mind if Ben could mess that up.

The bear was a little bit aware of the pup's thought process, but he bit his tongue and did not say anything; if only because it was true. He couldn't cook. In fact, he didn't even like to attempt such. He moved to get the ingredients, 'harrumphing' quite a bit as he did.

"Are you OK?"

"Hurgh!" Ben let out, trying to clear his throat, but still not succeeding in the task. He looked over at the pup though and nodded, "I'll be fine...but...if you don't mind, I'd like to stop by the store and pick up some different detergent,"

"You've stayed over before and this didn't happen,"

Ben nodded and took a sip of his coffee, "Maybe Marion changed the detergent?"

Chris shrugged his shoulders and quickly took the box of the peanut butter flavored cereal, "So..."

Ben began to pour a bowl for himself and stared at the pup, waiting for him to continue. But it seemed Chris had chewed off the question. A few moments passed before he pressed, "So? What's up?"

Chris took the first bite and chewed slowly, not wanting to insult the bear. But at the same time he coudlnt' help but wonder, if Ben did move in, if the bear became a permanent variable to their lives, would they have to change a lot of their lives? Sure, changing the type of detergent they used wasn't a big deal, but he wondered if it could snowball. "Do...well, is it difficult having asthma?"

Ben let out another harrumph as he fixed his own bowl of cereal, "Well...I don't suppose it's that difficult to me, seeing as I've always had it," he said plainly, trying to think about how to really tackle the question, "Some days are worse than others. My case isn't exactly severe but it's not light either...like I said, for me it's a case by case instance. If you mean like how I have to live though, well, I can do just about anything I want I suppose. Don't know if I can scuba dive, never really thought of it or stuff like that, but I've been on a hike with your father and you...and when I was in college I did work out and such, played a few sports,"

Chris munched through his cereal and was even on his second bowl by the time he felt like he understood enough. He asked a question here or there, but for the most part just found it better to let Ben talk; the bear naturally asked all his inquiries really. It seemed stupid to worry he'd have to change his life that much for the bear--it wasn't like Ben had to have a special diet or anything like that. The bear was normal, just needed to have his inhaler ready it seemed.

"Like today, I've got it in my bag incase I need it, though sometimes I'll keep it in my desk. Working at the school can be a bit annoying on days like this...I try to just keep a window open in my room, if none of the students mind. This city's air is clean, or well, much more than where I came from," Ben explained, standing up and working on lunch now, which only took him a quick minute. He nodded towards the door, "Ready to start heading out?"

"Yeah...so...what about the attacks? Are they scary?"

Ben's ears flickered a bit. "Not anymore I suppose. Just inhibitory. I just have to take it slow and easy. When I first had them they were a bit nerve wracking, and I wont' lie, if I don't' have my inhaler I can kind of panic at times, but for the most part I'm used to them. Being calm is the biggest part of it after all, steady breathing excercises and such,"

They kept up the talk the entire way to school. It wasn't too difficult to answer any questions the pup had, and he was happy to explain as well, though he took his time, going slow and steady about them so he could catch his breath. He would have to change the detergent--at least, that was most likely the option.

He noted how Chris's ears flickered as they pulled into the parking lot--though he guessed it was simply that Chris wasn't used to the teacher parking lot. Of course, that was a benefit, right? They were quite close to the school from where he was, unlike the students who had to make a longer walk through the school. But he didn't ask how the pup felt about that. Instead he just smiled as shouldered his bag, "I'll see you in class, OK?"

"Mmmhmm,"

The bear watched as Chris moved off. He wondered if the pup was walking fast--maybe fast enough to get away from him. Did it matter? Should he have tried to judge if Chris moved too quickly away from him, like he didn't want to be seen with him? Did it really matter? None of his peers would care of course, but Chris's peers were very different. Would Chris have preffered a different transport?

He shook the idea from his head quickly enough as he climbed the stairs; there were more important things to focus on. Like chemistry!

And he did chemistry, or well, he taught it. The first three classes passed rather slowly to him, seeing as in one he had to give a test and in another it was a review session. The class after that wouldn't quit asking if they could go outside--even though it wasn't a very good looking day outside like spring.

But for now he could relax. His feet were aching from standing for so long; he'd left his good shoes at his apartment. There was a crinkling sound to his room as he unwrapped his lunch--a simple sandwich. It was all he ever prepared. Peanut butter and jelly, it never got much better than that for him--because it was his favorite which didn't hurt of course. He licked some of the jelly off his finger before a figure seeming to glance occasionally into his room caught his eye.

"Hey there..." Ben said, looking up from his sandwich and smiling at the pup. He quickly fought away the smile, but it immediately came back: why couldn't he smile at Chris? So what if the pup was his student and his boyfriend's son--the pup was close to him, right? And it wasn't like he didn't smile at his students anyway? He could work it out: the relationship of student and father's boyfriend.

"Hey..."

"What are you up to?" Ben asked, wondering if there was a reason for the visit, or if, perhaps Chris had just wondered by and seen him in his room. Or maybe the pup was confused about how they were going to work out their schedules? Or was it that the pup was worried about being seen leaving together--as if it might tell what was happening? Those all didn't matter actually--it was school time and the pup wasn't in a class.

"Nothing....just have a free period," Chris said, his face going slightly red. He didn't quite know what the plan was yet.

"Really?" Ben asked, his eyes narrowing, "Because Marion told me you have a full schedule. And...if I'm right you should be in Mrs. Nathan's British Literature class right now,"

Chris couldn't help but wince though it was no surprise his dad had told the bear his schedule; though a bit more surprising the bear had memorized it. He shuffled his feet a little and averted his eyes, "Well....she's out today...and...well, she had a note telling us all to go to study hall...."

"So....shouldn't you be in study hall?" Ben asked, cocking his head a little. Of course he knew that many of the young furs had probably tried to escape. And though perhaps Chris really should've been in study hall, he couldn't deny that he felt something strange tugged on him at the fact the pup had come to him. It would've been just as easy for Chris to have gone somewhere unsupervised--instead the pup wanted to be with him. Wanted is a bit far, don't you think? He probably just didn't have much of a choice...don't over sell yourself Ben told himself quickly.

"Y--Yeah," Chris said and let out a small sigh. He didn't manage to turn more than a degree before the bear's voice hit him again.

"Or...you could stay in here if you want," Ben said quickly, his voice slightly lower. The pup wasted no time in turning around and taking a few steps into his room. God...this is harder than I thought...I want him to like me...but damn it, I'm a teacher too--and he's skipping. I understand.......just this once. I'll check if his story is real; if not, straight to detention with him Ben thought quickly, nodding as he did so--he'd be firm yet likeable.

"Really?"

Ben felt a smile run over his muzzle: the pup had come by to see if he would let him stay here? Even if Chris didn't necessarily want to hang out because he thought he was cool, the pup still coming to him for something was a nice feeling, he couldn't deny it, "Yeah...I mean.......if someone asks, I just didn't see you,"

Chris nodded, a small grin on his own muzzle as he moved over and popped down in a desk. Ben was actualy kind of cool it seemed.

Well, he already thought the bear was cool. Not in the 'school-cool' way, but in a more general way. And well, it wasn't like he even understood what cool meant with the school--but it didn't matter. The bear was OK with him at least--which was all he needed.

Ben couldn't help but cock his head as Chris pulled out a book and began to read. But...I mean...isn't that exactly what he would've done in study hall? he thought, watching the pup for a few moments still. He dismissed it though, a bit happy with the company, silent as it was. And he enjoyed it till the pup left for his next class and returned, though this time he had a class to teach.

"So, today we'll be diving into the fun world of..." Ben began and looked around, wondering if any child would jump in on the answer--which he pointed to on the board. After a few moments he let out a mental sigh and continued, "That's right, Redox Reactions..."

It was a rather difficult chapter, he had to admit. But it was important, really a foundation of reactions he thought. He tried to drive that point into his students, telling them about how all it took was oxidizing an oxygen molecule in their lungs to cause a deadly reaction--the creation of superoxides.

It was cool. No matter how bored most of the faces looked, Ben knew it was an interesting subject and he wasn't going to let his enthusiasm be dissuaded. He tried to make it fun and interesting as he thought it was; so much better than thermodynamics at the very least. He was on his first example before he had to stop, giving a tabby a small stare, "Marcus...we're trying to have class...would you like to tell me what happens to the chromium in this reaction?"

The tabby looked quickly up at the board and then shook his head, "I don't know," he said simply, and guessing that was all he needed to do, resumed talking with his neighbor. Ben felt his ears twitch in agitation at being dismissed so simply, though the cat had been rather annoying all year to be frank. He never cared about the lessons, and rarely showed any level of respect outside of a sarcastic 'yes sir' or such.

He tried to ignore it. But that was becoming all the more difficult as the cat started chewing gum in the class. And then laughing silently in the corner. If it was distracting him, he hoped it was distracting his students. Nearly finished with the problem and explanation he turned back around. "Marcus...I'm not going to ask you again," Ben said sternly, crossing his arms over his chest, "If you continue to be a disruption to my class I will send you outside,"

The tabby didn't back down--sadly. "I don't even want to be in this stupid fucking class, I'm never going to use any of this,"

"You won't if you don't apply yourself," Ben replied quickly. He uncrossed his arms and set down his eraser on the desk, "I don't have time for this Marcus. We're behind schedule and your holding up the students who actually do care,"

"Who honestly gives a damn,"

"Language. One more remark like that and I'll send you outside regardless," Ben said, growing more and more frustrated by the moments. He hated this. He hated teaching students like this. He loved teaching, but he wanted to just be able to throttle some of the students--kindly, of course.

"Oh, really? What the fuc--"

"That's it!" Ben growled and turned his back, walking to the door and throwing it open. He turned back, "Outside of my classroom and see yourself to the pr--" he was saying before he felt something collide with his nose. The eraser sent a puff of chalk dust and such into the air, and Ben quickly snuffled at the feeling, though the emotion rising up in him took precendent. Rage.

"You littl--" Ben began, or tried to, but the words didn't come out before he coughed. And then coughed again. Just a moment later his wheezing returned and he put a paw on the door to steady himself.

Some of the furs were laughing, but more seemed concerned; with one asking him if he was alright. Chris watched as the bear moved to his desk and fell into the chair, digging through his files quickly. He wasn't sure if he imagined it or not, but he was sure he saw a slight look of panic on Ben's features after a few moments. One thing that he was sure of was that the bear began to pick through things much quicker.

The inhaler. Chris quickly got out of his own chair and moved over to Ben, ignoring the laugh from Marcus. He moved to the bear's bag and dug about--seeing a few papers that still needed grading, but more importantly finding the device. "Ben,"

The bear was quick to take the inhaler and some greedy breathes assisted by it. That was followed by a stream of coughs. He didn't know what to do, but Chris found himself rubbing Ben's back--concerned now. The bear's paw was shaking; was it really that bad?

Marcus just laughed though, even pointing at Ben. The fur didn't understand, he was just a jerk, nothing but a jerk. Chris didn't realize he was growling, though he wished his stare could hurt the cat.

Another wheeze.

"Is daddy number two OK Chris?" Marcus asked with a chuckle, and next to him a cheetah--Jenny--giggled at the joke. Or what was supposed to be a joke.

It happened too fast, he didn't think on it. One moment he was next to Ben, and another Chris knew he was in front of the cat. Then the next his paw was in a fist. And the next moment Marcus was on the floor. Just a moment after that though he heard Ben's voice...