Archive of Our Own

Balance.

The one thing that every beast on planet Earth needs is balance. Balanced sleeping times, balanced relationships, balanced exercise, and of course, a balanced diet. Many of the beasts in this world eat, but a very select group of animals, of course, eat meat. In this world, beasts eating other beasts is a very illegal but sadly common practice in these times.

Tweek Tweak is a weasel. A small animal, long and furry all over. But despite his cute looks and adorable attributes, he is sadly one of the most feared meat-eaters in the school. Not because his jaw is long, that his teeth are piercing, or even that his fingernails can’t seem to stop growing, but because he can’t seem to get a grip on his own instincts in a blended classroom.

It certainly doesn’t help that weasels are very notorious for hunting prey all the time, even when they aren’t hungry. Sure, his ancestors used to chow down on any creature they could get their grubby little paws on, including rabbit which were a good two maybe even three times the size of them, but that didn’t mean he had those same instincts!

Tweek considered himself timid, or at least a bit anti social, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at him. The only person who currently wasn’t totally scared of sharing a room with him was Kenny the rat and a bunny who was the runt of the litter, what was his name? Oh yeah, his name was Butters.

So when he went to class at a school with all kinds of animals and went to the small animal classes, he wasn’t surprised when he didn’t even get a wave from anyone in the class. Sadly, he got plenty of eyes though as many of the mice and rodents usually present in small animal classes made sure he didn’t make any sudden moves.

His round ears drooped sadly as usual when all eyes were in him, beginning to twitch  and shake out of nervousness. Unfortunately he knew that his twitching and shaking only brought more attention and fear his way. Nothing was more scary to a herbivore than a carnivore who couldn’t sit still or control his body.

Through rounds of trial and error he found that they were most comfortable when Tweek was visible, which meant not in the back. Turns out they weren’t all happy when he was in the very front either, sense he was rather tall and lanky compared to the rest of the class. So he sat in the middle row closer to the outer wall, which was comfortable for him too.

This was just how every day began, how it was just meant to be. Especially since all of his classmates, besides perhaps one or two, were herbivores. Everyone settled in their seats, and Tweek took off his backpack, setting it to the side of his chair. The sound of chatter filled the air, students trying to get conversations in before class officially started. No one bothered to talk to him, though that wasn’t a terrible thing. 

Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long as the teacher walked in, a flying squirrel who Tweek actually liked more than his other teachers. It was the first hour, so this was science class. Tweek liked science, it was a very hands on class and he really enjoyed getting to experiment up close and in person.

“Okay class, moving on from our last astronomical unit, we will be getting into the history of the Earth and some of the great mass extinctions. This class you will be pairing up and making a presentation about one of the five mass extinctions, or a species that has gone extinct and why.” They explained, drawing out on the board the five mass extinctions.

Tweek picked his head up a bit more at the sudden announcement of a project that he had to do with a partner. What?! Why did they have to have a partner! Why did they have to do anything at all, why would he have to act with anyone here! Sure, it wasn’t like he was on bad terms with his classmates, but he didn’t have a good relationship with any of them either! They’d just make him nervous, and then he’d freak out, and that would make his partner scared which would make him scared!

“Gah!” He yelped, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. The surrounding animals who had probably unwillingly sat next to him noticeably scooted their chairs away.

The teacher’s eyes fell on him thanks to his little outburst. “Mr.Tweak, do you have something you’d like to say?”

Okay, maybe he didn’t like this teacher all that much. “I don’t wanna work with -nngh- anyone!” He said, a bit too loud as his classmates flattened their ears (if they were able). “I can do the whole -ack- project by myself! I’ll do it all by myself, so -nngh- I won’t work with anyone!”

The teacher was far too aware of why the tan-furred weasel didn’t want to trade words with anyone in his class. He wasn’t passed saying he himself was afraid of Tweek and all of his unpredictable ticks. It was only because he was thought of having ADHD had he not been expelled for all of those outbursts.

“Mr.Tweak, working together with others is an important skill to have, especially after graduating. When you get a job you’ll have to work with others.”

“But I’ll -nngh- just work with my parents! Gah!”

“That’s not the point I’m trying to make. I’ve excused you from having a partner up to now. It is the end of the year, and to earn a grade for perhaps the final project, you will have to work with a partner.” He said sternly.

Tweek dropped his head and nervously started to shake again, pulling at his buttoned up shirt anxiously. The teacher let out a sigh and took pity on the young weasel.

“But… I suppose if there are an odd number of students, you’ll be forced to work alone, granted that no one partners with you.” He added, making Tweek’s face light up.

Perhaps it wasn’t the best look for him if he always worked alone, especially as a carnivore, but it didn’t matter as long as he didn’t partner with anyone. Soon everyone was walking around and pairing up with one another, all avoiding Tweek who obviously didn’t want to work with anyone. He was happy about that. Less attention on him.

He smiled softly as less and less people needed partners, until he was the only one left. It seemed that he would get to work alone, and for that he thanked the great beast gods for letting him not be forced to bear the awkwardness of contact with a herbivore! He let out a happy sigh and leaned back in his seat.

Yes!

Suddenly the door to the classroom opened, and a guinea pig walked in. He had dark raven black fur, and he could almost make out a lighter shade just below the neck. Like all guinea pigs, he had dark black eyes and a pink nose. He also noticed a darker, blacker color of fur just poking out under his blue hat with a yellow puff ball and holes for his small round ears.

“Mr.Tucker, you’re late, care to explain yourself?” The teacher asked, clearly not happy with his student always coming in late.

The guinea pig just raised his middle finger before going to his seat and sitting down. “I have short fucking legs, no one gave me a ride. Going up the large mammal stairs were hell.” He said in the most monotone voice you could possibly imagine.

“Language Mr.Tucker, and do I need to call your parents yet again for your actions?”

“No.”

“That better be the case. Thankfully you got here just in time, we were just pairing up for a group project. Tweek, you don’t have a partner, correct?”

Tweek’s eyes went wide with the implications. He gripped his desk harshly and froze, not sure what to do or say. “I don’t, but he -nngh- got here late! You snooze you -gah- loose!” He stated quickly, locking eyes with the guinea pig.

“Sorry Mr.Tweek I stand by what I previously said. Scoot your desks together, you’ll be working with Craig.”

The guinea pig turned his head, breaking the staring contest between the two and picking up his desk with his paws, silently bringing it to Tweek’s and squeezing in between him and his desk neighbors. “Nngh, do… do you need help?” Tweek asked, knowing it was custom for carnivores to help herbivores.

“No.” He said plainly, awkwardly jamming his own desk in the empty space before climbing over it, just to realize he’d have to get his chair over the desk too, or go around.

“Gah, are you sure…?”

“Yes, get off my back.” He snapped back, dragging his chair around the three desks and pushing it in the middle where he had solved his desk in. He took a seat. “So, what are we doing?”

Tweek bit his bottom lip nervously, trying to hold back any other noises that could possibly make the other scared, only to notice the guinea pig staring at his fangs. He stopped biting his lip.

“Nngh, we’re looking at one of the five mass extinctions, or a more or less recently extinct species…”

Tweek swore he caught the quick glare Craig gave him before turning away. “Recently, extinct huh? Wonder how that happened.” He said in a clearly sarcastic voice.

Of course, the only two ways species go extinct nowadays; dying out eventually not being able to find a mate of the same species (especially with inter-species relationships becoming more accepted), or the more prominent reason, murders.

It doesn’t help that the more and more a species (specifically herbivores) gets hunted the higher the price is on black markets and on the streets. And of course, the higher the demand. The two boys were painfully aware of this fact, and Tweek felt a tang of guilt every carnivore feels. Even though he never once laid an unwanted paw on any other animal, he understood the passive aggressiveness his classmate was demonstrating.

The whole class period was spent in silence for the two of them, neither socially aware enough to speak up after Craig’s comment. Tweek felt guilty for being a weasel, and guilty for speaking down to him when he didn’t need the help. Perhaps it was the fact that he hadn’t ever really had a normal conversation with anyone other than Kenny or another weasel. Maybe it was just that Craig was… weird. 

Craig’s eyes were dark and round, and Tweek could never really tell what exactly he was looking at. Sometimes he swore that the other boy was looking right at him, that his eternally dark eyes were always piercing through his body. But he didn’t think he’d be so lucky. Tweek silently dipped his head closer to his desk, his pencil scratching away at his paper.

Instead of doing his half of the work though, he decided that he’d rather get Craig out of his head, and drew his eyes. It was hard to tell what they were on their own, so he drew a nose and a mouth. Then, just because it all looked a little weird with no base, he drew the head and the hat to put everything together. Tweek thought to himself that every head should have a body, and leaving a head all alone seemed more like an execution. So he ended up drawing Craig. All of him.

Just as he put on the final details to the drawing, like wrinkles in clothes and certain details in his fur, he leaned back. He thanked god for Craig being a guinea pig of all things and not something like a snake, or something covered in fur, because he wasn’t good at drawing coils and fur was complicated. Tweek smiled to himself. He wasn’t the best artist, not even a very good one, but this was one of his best works. Wait, do guinea pigs have tails?

“Is that me?” Craig asked, glancing over at the open notebook on Tweek’s desk.

Tweek slammed his book shut, almost snapping Craig’s finger in between the cover pages. The blood rushed to his cheeks in embarrassment as Tweek tried to cover up the fact that he had decided to draw all of Craig just because he liked his eyes…

“Gah! No, I didn’t draw you!” He said a bit louder than needed.

“Oh. That’s a shame, I thought it was really good…” he said softly, turning his head back to his desk and the textbook he had been reading. 

Tweek squeezed his eyes shut in embarrassment, feeling his face get hotter with every moment. God this was so embarrassing…! He didn’t mean to draw Craig, and he certainly didn’t mean for Craig to actually see it if he did!

“So… you like to draw guinea pigs?” The ravennette asked softly, not looking up.

“Um… yeah, I think they’re easy to -nngh- draw and stuff…” he muttered softly. Quick Tweek, this is your time to bridge the gap! Make friends! Compliment him! “I… I think all guinea pigs look really nice…”

“Oh.” Was all Craig responded with. Although in that moment Tweek was almost fully convinced that he had screwed up, the silence was a little less awkward now.

At the end of class both had gotten the beginning of the project mostly done, though they were admittedly a little behind thanks to their lack of communication. Tweek packed up his things, getting ready to move on to the next class, surprisingly feeling disappointed that it was all over already. For the first time he was happy to have a partner in a class… but before he could leave a hand was placed on his shoulder.

“Hey um… we’re a little behind on the project. Would you want to, I don’t know, come over to my place?” Craig asked, keeping the same relatively neutral expression on his face. Tweek imagined that Craig was a little happier to ask him over.

“Nngh, I don’t know. People are pretty freaked out around me in general… would your parents be okay with me coming over…?” He didn’t mention his species knowing that if he was rejected by the Tucker family it was going to be because he was a weasel.

“I don’t know, they won’t be home when you come over. They’re doing something in a different state, I forget what.” He said nonchalantly.

The weasel’s cheeks flushed for the second time today and nodded. “Nngh… okay, I’ll come over… what’s your number…?” He asked, trying to weasel his way into getting Craig’s number as well as his address.

He didn’t understand why he was trying so hard to get Craig’s number, he didn’t even know why he wanted it so badly! But for the first time a herbivore hadn’t put up a fight to get away with him, and even said that he liked his drawings! Craig was just different. Tweek liked that.

Craig took his phone and Tweek’s, adding his number to the other’s phone and vice versa. The first thing he did with Tweek’s number was text him his home address, making sure they had the right number. He nodded to himself once he heard a ding come from the other’s phone.

“See you after school then. I’ll make… something. I don’t know, I’ll figure it out later, but I’ll make something you can eat while we work.” The guinea pig said, not bothering to say goodbye before leaving.

Tweek flushed again and stayed out for a minute, just staring at the text on his phone. Besides from his parents, Kenny and Butters, this was one of the first contacts on his phone. He smiled warmly, saving his number and going off to his next class. He was soooooooo happy.

.    .    .

Here he was, standing right in front of Craig’s house, backpack full of books and all sorts of things they may need for this particular project. He looked the house up and down, realizing it was a bit nicer than his own. For some reason that made him even more nervous.

Tweek felt his blood pump through his veins in perhaps the worst way possible as he walked closer to the door. He was shaking more than usual, biting his bottom lip in nervousness as he tried to steady himself. The weasel knocked on the door, hearing his own heartbeat in his round ears. He wondered what Craig’s house would look like on the inside.

He had only talked to the guinea pig a few times and never once outside of the classroom, so of course he had the jitters. All he knew about the other was that despite his parents being physically bigger, he was rather runty and that he got good enough grades. Well, that and that he was cute. 

Soon the door was answered, but not by the animal he was expecting; instead he was met with a smaller guinea pig who was about half his height. She had a much different fur pattern than Craig, with a tan and white pattern being the majority, at least what Tweek could see, and looked to be a slightly different species.

“You must be the spaz my brother was talking about. He’d said you’d be coming. He also said he’d get something for you to eat, and that he didn’t know what you’d like so he ordered pizza. It hasn’t come yet.” She said, opening the door up and allowing him to walk inside.

The weasel cautiously walked in, expecting something much different than what he got. Everything looked more or less like his own home, just with wider furniture and less tube-like rooms and halls. It wasn’t bad at all. Some things were a little high from even him to reach, but apparently according to Craig’s sibling, it was supposed to be like that for just the adults. 

“Nngh, I didn’t know Craig had any -gah- siblings…” Tweek muttered as the other led him around the house, should him everything he needed to see.

“Yeah, he doesn’t talk about us much I know. He doesn’t talk a lot actually, I think that’s really annoying of him, especially since he’ll complain about how everyone thinks he’s something else.”

“Craig complains about that…?”

“No, I was testing you and you failed. You don’t know my brother very well do you?” She asked, not needing Tweek to answer her question. “I don’t care, he said this was just for a project anyways. Just keep things down and don’t eat anyone.”

Although it was a joke, Tweek’s ears flattened sadly. He hopped it wouldn’t come up but it did. And trying to be a polite guest in someone else’s home he didn’t speak up about the micro aggression she had just made. She led him to Craig’s room and left, not bothering to say goodbye to the weasel at all.

Tweek took a deep breath and sighed, opening up the door and walking into the guinea pig’s room. Craig’s walls were the first thing he noticed; painted a dark blue and (glow in the dark) stars had been put on every inch of the room, designed to make it look like the night sky. His bed was even space themed, with a rocket ship headboard painted a still vibrant red. Craig had a small round carpet designed to look like the moon as well. Tweek couldn’t help but cringe and admire just how willing he was to show how much he loved space; despite his kiddy way of doing so.

“So did Tricia lead you here? I heard the knocking, he yelled that she would get it.” Craig said nonchalantly.

Tweek turned and noticed that Craig had been peacefully sitting at his desk this whole time. He blushed, realizing he hadn’t seen the other even though he was clearly in sight. “Y-yeah, she did… she looks a lot different than you do.”

“Yeah, I don’t look like my family. That makes sense though, I’m adopted. Soon she’ll outgrow me.” He said not phased by the question.

“Oh. I’m—“

“Don't say it, I hate it when people say it. I’m healthy, I have great parents, I don’t give two shits about the people who gave me up and I’m lucky enough to be educated. Don’t say it.” The other snapped, squeezing the pencil in his paw tightly.

Tweek swallowed a lump in his throat he didn’t know was there, and shrunk visibly under the guinea pig’s gaze. This was the first time he had actually been afraid of someone else, especially a herbivore. He just dropped his backpack and walked to Craig’s desk.

Before he could say something about the sitting situation Craig scooted his own chair a little to the side and patted the now empty space, inferring that now they could share a chair. Tweek felt the blood go to his cheeks and he silently took a seat. Craig’s chair was a little wide for him so they could easily share sense Tweek was thin and tall. His long tail rested comfortably through the hole of the chair which was nice.

He wondered again, did Craig have a tail?

“Feel free to scoot in, I don’t mind. I’m not afraid of you just because you’re a weasel.” The raven-furred creature muttered. “I just think you’re a bit of a spaz.”

The carnivore let out a shaky breath and nodded, scooting in a little closer to the other till they were pressing together. Tweek tried not to focus on their shoulders brushing up against each other. He jittered, letting out a shaky breath. He wasn’t used to physical touch, and honestly touching Craig was… well, nerve racking.

“You’re -nngh- really nice…” Tweek breathed out, a smile pulling at his lips.

“Thanks. You’re nice too.”

The weasel nodded and starred ahead, glancing down at the open book on his desk and reading a bit of text on the page. He caught himself reading and rereading the same paragraph over and over again, still too focused on Craig’s warm body still pressed against his.

Tweek had to admit, he thought Craig was attractive, though he wasn’t sure how moral that attraction was. After all, one of the main arguments that campaigned against carnivore/herbivore couples is that carnivores can’t tell what’s attractive to them and what is hunger and primal instinct. Lust verses gluttony.

He hadn’t ever felt the urge to eat another, but that’s what made this so scary as well; that means he didn’t know the difference. Perhaps he should try to learn. He didn’t even realize he was leaning over the other until Craig looked up and they locked eyes. Tweek snapped back to the book, trying to make it look like he hadn’t been starring, even though all of his actions were futile.

“Why were you looking at me?”

“Nngh, no reason...”

“Why?”

“Um… I’m thinking about -GAH- making a move on y-you or not. You know, whether it’s appropriate or not…”

“Oh…”

Tweek’s ears and head drooped in embarrassment again, feeling his body tremble as he tried to swallow down his feelings.

“You know… I don’t think it would be entirely inappropriate if we, I don’t know, kissed… or something.”

Tweek perked up a little. “Y-yeah… we’re consenting age after all…”

“Consenting age and technically teens, it wouldn’t be out of character if we did something.”

“Yep! Nngh, people have emotions and stuff… we like each other, right?”

“Right.”

Craig turned, resting his hands on his own thighs and tried to fully turn his body to Tweek, and realized that they couldn’t actually do anything sharing a chair. “We should move to my bed.”

Tweek’s eyes widened a bit but nodded, getting up first and walking to the bed where Craig shortly joined him. His bed was shorter than Tweek’s or anything he was used to on his own, but then again his bed was more or less a hammock hanging from the ceiling. The other climbed up into the bed and joined him.

The guinea pig laid on his own bed, grabbing Tweek by the shoulders and pulling the lanky man on top of himself. Tweek let out a small yelp, not expecting the sudden movement. He placed his paws on either side of Craig’s head, trying to find a good position for the both of them.

“S-so you really aren’t afraid of me…?”

“Nope. Should I be?”

“Gah, I don’t think so… but the last time I had sex was with another weasel, we wore muzzles cause we were both males and things could get messy…”

“And did it?”

“Well no… not for me anyways, I was the one topping. He got a little feisty but just the normal amount during the start but calmed down…”

“So I shouldn’t worry.”

“That’s assuming we’re going to have sex.”

“Should I assume that?”

Tweek blinked twice, thinking it over. He noticed his heart was beating fast, but he wasn’t as nervous. “I wouldn’t mind.”

Craig reached up and wrapped his arms around Tweek’s neck, pulling him down a little closer to where their noses were practically touching. “How about we cross that bridge when we come to it?” He muttered softly.

The weasel had no idea Craig could be gentle like that, but it wasn’t like he didn’t enjoy his actions either. He gave a weak nod, too transfixed on the other’s eyes to actually give a correct response to the other. Despite the tension between them, Tweek didn’t fully mind this. It was nice.

“What if… what if something happens that we don’t want to happen…?” The carnivore asked, eluting to himself. He didn’t know if he could really do something violent to Craig but he wanted a plan just in case.

“We’ll stop. If something does happen then worse comes to worst I’ll scream for Tricia and she’ll do something.” Craig answered, stroking the other’s fur softly.

Tweek nodded, leaning in closer until their foreheads were touching. The knowledge that he wasn’t possibly endangering Craig (as much) made him feel a bit better. He couldn’t help but smile, letting out a brief sigh of relief. 

“Gah, can I kiss you?”

“Fucking finally.”

Craig leaned forward and pressed their lips together after what seemed like an eternity, catching Tweek a little off guard. The weasel let out a small yelp but didn’t pull away. He closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh into the kiss, relaxing more and more to the touch on his lips. He twitched when he felt hands go through his hair but didn’t protest or pull away even feeling more relaxed with the touch than without.

Tweek took a deep breath in through his nose, not willing to pull away even for a moment to get a good, deep breath. He pressed their bodies close together out of instinct, feeling fuzzy things people usually write about in romance novels. He let his hands drag downward to Craig’s chest, just to have Craig himself push them away.

The guinea pig sat up, forcing the carnivore up as well. Tweek was basically sitting on Craig’s legs now, both lightly panting thanks to the utter lack of oxygen they provided each other.

“Do… do you not want to -nngh- continue?”

The herbivore pursed his lips together shaking his head no. “Not really feeling it right now. Besides, I’d rather get to know you better.”

“Oh… Craig?”

“Hm?”

Tweek climbed off of the other, getting up off of the space themed bed. “D-do guinea pigs have tails?” He asked, embarrassed that he had to ask in the first place.

Craig stayed silent for a moment, and Tweek had worried that it was a sensitive thing for his species. Thankfully, he later learned that it wasn’t.

“Unless they’re cut off, yes we do. They’re really flat and short though, so they don’t require holes in the pants like your tail. Plus our fur all goes down so you couldn’t really be able to tell if we undress. Hell, I didn’t even know I had one until I was four.”

“R-really?” Tweek pondered, tilting his head.

“Yep.”

Tweek smiled. Hopefully this was just one of many things he would learn about Craig over time.