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Biology class always felt a little unreal to Froggy.
Maybe it was the fluorescent lights that were too bright, too cold, humming faintly like they were alive. Maybe it was the smell of formaldehyde that clung to the walls no matter how many windows the teacher opened.
Or maybe it was the fact that Grox sat behind him, tapping his pencil against the desk in a slow, rhythmic pattern that made Froggy’s spine tingle.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Froggy didn’t turn around. He didn’t have to. He could feel Grox’s eyes on the back of his neck, steady and unblinking.
The teacher droned on about anatomical structures, diagrams projected onto the board. Something about comparative physiology. Something about lab partners. Something about “hands-on examination.”
Froggy wasn’t listening.
He was thinking about Grox’s tapping.
And the way it suddenly stopped.
“Froggy,” the teacher said suddenly. “You’ll be paired with Grox today.”
Froggy’s heart dropped straight through the floor.
Grox stood up behind him, chair scraping loudly against the floor. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. Froggy could feel the shift in the air, like the room itself was holding its breath.
The teacher gestured toward the lab tables. “You two will be doing the observational exam. Non-invasive. Just structural analysis.”
Grox’s eyes flicked toward Froggy.
Non-invasive.
Sure.
Froggy swallowed hard and followed Grox to the back table. The foggy windows made the room feel smaller, like they were underwater. Grox sat first, posture straight, hands folded neatly on the table like he was waiting to begin an autopsy, with a wide-ass smile on his face.
Froggy sat across from him, glaring him down and crosing his arms.
And Grox stared back.
The assignment sheet lay between them. Froggy glanced at it.
“Partner A will examine Partner B’s physical features and record observations.”
Grox slid the paper toward himself. “I’ll be Partner A.” he dictated and began to read the written instructions.
Froggy blinked. “What if I want to be partner A?” He quickly challenged. If he was going to be forced to work with Grox, he wouldn't make it easy for him.
To his disappointment though, Grox didn’t answer. Just reached for the pencil.
Froggy’s throat tightened. “Okay. Fine!”
Grox leaned forward, elbows on the table, eyes fixed on Froggy like he was something under a microscope. Froggy felt heat crawl up his neck.
Grox’s voice was uncharacteristically quiet. “Sit still and open your mouth, frog man!”
Froggy blinked, a look of surprise crossed his face.
“What!?” He flipped out. Who did Grox think he was? "That can't possibly be necessary. Don't play with me!"
Grox didn’t repeat himself. He simply reached out, hooked two fingers under Froggy’s chin, and pushed upward, forcing Froggy’s mouth open.
Froggy gasped, eyes widening.
Grox’s expression didn’t change. He tilted Froggy’s head slightly, thumb pressing against Froggy’s cheekbone.
“Wider.”
Froggy strangely obeyed, breath trembling.
Grox peered inside, examining Froggy’s teeth, tongue, the shape of his palate. His fingers pressed harder, cold and unyielding.
His eyes watered and when Grox finally released him, writing something down, Froggy wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You didn’t have to-”
Grox cut him off. “You weren’t cooperating!”
Froggy’s heart pounded and he scoffed. At this point, he was only seconds away from punching the other student in the face.
Grox continued writing something on the paper.
Froggy tried to peek but it was quickly covered by the other's hand.
“Ayo, chill!” Grox ordered. “You’ll see later.”
Froggy swallowed and his jaw clenched. “You’re being weird!” He growled out.
Grox didn’t blink. “You’re the one being examined. Just listen to me.”
Froggy’s stomach twisted.
Grox reached out again, grabbing a handful of Froggy’s hair and yanking his head forward.
Froggy yelped, hands flying up instinctively, but Grox’s grip tightened.
“Don’t move.”
Froggy froze, breath shaking, staring intently up at him and watching every movement.
Grox examined the roots, the texture, the way Froggy’s hair fell across his forehead. His fingers were cold, clinical, uncaring. He tugged again, repositioning Froggy’s head like adjusting a lamp.
Froggy’s scalp burned. His voice trembled. “You’re being rough.”
Grox didn’t look at him. “You’re just being difficult.”
“I’m not-”
Grox finally met his eyes. “You flinch too much.” he leaned closer. “Stop flinching.”
But Froggy couldn’t.
Grox reached out again, grabbing Froggy’s jaw and forcing his face upward.
“Look at me.”
Froggy did.
Grox’s thumb pressed against Froggy’s lower eyelid, pulling it down slightly. Froggy whimpered, trying to blink rapidly.
“Hold still.”
Froggy groaned but tried nonetheless. Whatever to make the examination finish faster, he thought. His eyes watered.
Grox examined the color of Froggy’s iris, the dilation of his pupils, the trembling of his lashes. He wrote something down.
Froggy’s voice cracked. “You’re hurting me. I'm going to tell someone.”
Grox didn’t blink. “You’re just being sensitive.”
“That’s not-”
Grox cut him off and held up a hand. “Stop talking, man!”
Froggy’s throat tightened.
Grox leaned in even closer, his lips turning up into a cruel smile, breath warm against Froggy’s cheek. “Your pupils dilate when I touch you.”
Froggy’s heart did something strange.
Grox went to go write it down but Froggy yanked his hand back. “Stop analyzing me.”
Grox sighed theatrically and rolled his eyes, as if Froggy were the one acting unreasonably. “That’s the assignment.”
“No way! You’re doing it weird.”
Grox tilted his head. “You don't know that. Maybe you’re just reacting weird.”
Froggy groaned and covered his face with his hands.
Grox gently pulled them away.
“Don’t hide.”
Froggy froze.
Grox’s fingers lingered on his wrists for a moment too long.
The lights flickered again.
The room felt smaller.
Quieter.
Like the air had thickened.
Grox didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe he did and didn’t care.
Froggy stared at him. “You’re enjoying this.”
Grox's gaze wandered back to Froggy and he smiled. He didn’t deny it.
He reached out again, fingertips brushing Froggy’s throat lightly, tracing the line of his jaw down to the collar of his shirt.
Froggy’s breath stuttered. “That’s- that’s definitely not part of the assignment.”
Grox’s voice was low. “It’s observational.”
“Exactly, dude. You’re supposed to observe, not- not touch everything.”
Grox’s eyes flicked to Froggy’s lips. “But touching gives more data.” He whined and pouted.
Froggy’s heart nearly stopped.
Grox leaned back slightly, finally giving Froggy space to breathe. Froggy sucked in air like he’d been underwater.
Grox wrote something else down.
Froggy glared weakly. “What are you writing?”
Grox didn’t answer.
When he finally set the pencil down Froggy exhaled shakily. “Are we done?”
Grox shook his head. “One more thing.”
Froggy’s stomach twisted. “What.”
He wrote one final note.
Froggy stared at him, chest tight. “What did you write.”
Grox slid the paper across the table.
Froggy looked down.
There were dozens of notes. Some Measurements, observations, sketches. But the last line made his breath catch.
“Subject responds positively to proximity.”
Froggy’s face went red. “Grox-”
Grox snickered when he met his eyes. “It’s true!”
Froggy sputtered. “You- you can’t just- write that!”
Grox shrugged. “It’s data.”
Froggy covered his face again. “You’re impossible.” Grox gently pulled Froggy’s hands away again.
“Don’t hide.”
Froggy’s heart twisted.
Grox’s voice softened. “I like examining you.”
Froggy’s breath caught. “That’s- that’s weird.”
Grox nodded. “You’re weird.”
Froggy just glared at him in response, judging him.
The lights flickered one last time.
The bell rang, loud and jarring. Froggy jumped but Grox didn’t move.
Students packed up around them, chairs scraping, voices rising. But their table stayed quiet, suspended in its own strange bubble.
Grox finally stood, folding the paper neatly.
Froggy scrambled to gather his things. “We’re- we’re turning that in?”
Grox looked down at it one last time and nodded. “It’s accurate.”
Froggy groaned. “You’re going to get us both in trouble!”
Grox smiled cheekily. “I don’t really care.”
Froggy stared at him. “You’re unbelievable.”
Grox paused, then leaned down slightly, voice low. “You liked it.”
Froggy’s breath stopped. “I-”
Grox didn’t wait for an answer. He walked toward the front of the room, paper in hand.
Froggy stood frozen for a moment before following him, heart pounding, face burning, mind spinning.
Grox handed the paper to the teacher.
Froggy watched him.
Grox glanced back.
And for the first time, Froggy saw it. The faintest hint of a genuine smile. He might’ve described the sight as "cute" if he didn’t know who Grox was.
Froggy’s stomach flipped.
Grox walked past him, brushing their shoulders together.
“Come on,” Grox ordered. “We’re late for lunch.”
Froggy followed begrudgingly, muttering insults under his breath.