#image processing assignment homework help

Severus Snape had to deal with a busy day today. There were the students who required his attention, but also Dumbledore and other personal matters, which loomed over him like a guillotine that threatened to drop at any point. He strode across the halls with purpose in his steps, which left echoing sounds in their wake. Severus had set his mind to the following task, ready to pursue it and get it done, when something unusual caught his attention.

You were by yourself, taking a walk, free from classes. Theoretically, you should have been studying for your upcoming evaluations or doing your assignments, but there was a problem.

A major problem.

You were ovulating. When this happened, studying became ten times worse than it already was, and doing homework was thoroughly off the table. How could you focus on writing essays when all you could think of was getting bent over a desk and fucked until your mind was mush? You quickly realised, sitting in your dorm, that this was going to worsen the thoughts. You decided a quick walk might help your mind get distracted.

You were wrong.

You barely stepped out of the dorms and into the corridors of Hogwarts when the thoughts hit you again, unmerciful and feral as before. You were glad classes were over for the day because if this had happened any earlier. You couldn't imagine what you would have done had this happened during Professor Snape's class. How could you have hidden your desire with him right there? With his broad back turned to you as he scolded you for some insignificant mistake, or with his hand slamming on your working bench as he insulted your skill. You would have heard his voice, his bickering about the terrible job you did cutting some plant, while all your mind would have been able to think about was how hard he could have pounded you into the desk.

Fuck.

Your mind drifted again. At this rate, you were not ending the day sane.

And then, as if to mock you, Merlin himself set you up. While walking, rubbing your face and trying to contain your thoughts, you saw Severus Snape staring right at you from a little distance. There was something almost frightening in the way his eyes scanned you.

What you didn't know was that Severus heard all of those thoughts and beyond. He had an insight into the students' thoughts as they lacked a mental shield, and sometimes, more against his will, he heard in his mind curious things that his students thought about. Typically, he heard complaints about homework, plans to sneak out, or other minor things. At times, there were more suggestive ideas, 'crushes', but when those came to his mind, he groaned and slipped away before they could invade his mind. Those were a kind of poison he tried to keep away. And for the most part, he did a fantastic job ignoring such thoughts until today.

More explicitly, until he walked past you.

Your thoughts were loud, much audible than the others he had to deal with, and their nature equally as frivolous. He wanted to avoid them, but the vivid wording and images of how your vile desires made him stop in his tracks in shock. And worst of all, the thoughts you had of him. Those made him freeze even worse than the others, his mind unable to process what he was dealing with. You fantasised about him? What unfortunate spell were you under that made you so desperate as to think of him of all people?

Ah. Not a spell then.

A simple womanly feature. Ovulation.

Your thoughts revealed that to him, too, and fortunately, he was familiar with the concept, albeit he hadn't encountered an example quite as severe.

Nonetheless, he felt a bit sympathetic. So consuming were your thoughts that even for him, they were hard to avoid and conquer, let alone for you. What kind of plague was your mind in? What a pitiful example, and yet one that he desired to help.

He walked over to you, and you snapped from your daze, staring up at him.

'Fuck I wish you'd grab me by the throat and push me over your office desk.'

Your mind cried out, and Severus heard, swallowing back any dubious remark that would reveal to you that he was aware of what you were thinking. You'd find out, but later.

"You, girl."

You blinked up at him.

"I see you are not concerned with any classes." He eyed you, seeing you had no notebooks or materials with you. "Have you finished your work for today?"

"Yes." 'Fuck me, please.' Your mind cried out.

"Patience."

"What?"

"Never mind." Severus let his gaze linger on you, pondering over his options. Should he leave or try to lend you a hand? "If you don't have any work to do, follow me."

"Where?"

"I said follow, foolish girl."

"Professor-"

Severus shot you a glance, brow furrowed. "Silence. You don't want to get caught, do you?"

"No."

Severus's hand slipped under your robes, his large hand covering your chest and kneading your breasts through your robes. He helped you straddle his lap, your back pressed into his chest. Severus was watching your reaction with keen interest.

"I can feel, hear, your body's call for pleasure. So lustful, unable to control your desires." The words sounded like chiding, but were soft, almost encouraging. You would have seen them as teasing had they not been Severus' words. One hand continued to knead your breast, firmly. Precise, like your pleasure had steps such as concocting a potion. His other hand was between your legs, feeling your crotch with the same calculated accuracy.

"Professor-"

You mewled, trying to press your head back into his shoulder, and he gazed down at you, swallowing the knot in his throat, seeing you so vulnerable and reactive in his arms.

"Hush. No louder, or I will have to stop."

Severus ran his hand under your robes' skirt, feeling your thighs. He pushed up your skirt, his large fingers teasing over your knickers, stroking over the damp fabric. He had done so little, and yet you were already so eager to take him.

"What fiendish thoughts have you harboured in that silly mind of yours?" whispered Snape, his lips by your ear. "How many times have you dealt with such lust that you did not know how to dispose of?"

You clutched back at his arm, squeezing it, and he growled lowly, the slight pressure from your hand barely distracting him from his purpose. He worked his fingers over your knickers, slipping them past the fabric, pressing against your slick cunt that was eagerly expecting filling. Severus squeezed your breast, making you squirm, giving him the perfect angle to push his finger inside you, prodding and teasing, easing a second one after the first.

You buried your face against the side of his neck, clutching on his arm as he sighed, repressing his desire to scold you as he worked his fingers inside you.

"Not enough..." You whispered, whining and arching needily in his lap. "The fingers are not enough. I could have done that myself, but I need more. Please."

'Please bend me over and pound me, fuck me stupid, please.'

Your words were already preposterously demanding, but your thoughts were far worse, far needier. Severus grunted and sped up the pace of his fingers inside you, thrusting them at an angle that made your cunt's wet noise resonate through his office. Swiftly, he took his fingers out of you, dripping with your slick and stood up, pushing you to bend over his desk, face down.

"Silly girl, you don't know what you're asking for." He spoke, placing one hand on your back, pushing his palm up from your lower back to the back of your neck, his grip firm as he held you down on the desk. "I will not be merciful with a foolish girl who doesn't know boundaries."

You tried to look back, but you couldn't see much, although you did hear his robes coming apart and the sudden sensation of his erection pressed up against you. You grabbed the edge of the desk, and he held you down, his hand pressed on your back while he guided himself under your skirt, to your knickers, his tip grazing over the fabric.

Severus Snape tilted his head, watching you squirm and plead for more, and he sighed, looking down. He pushed your knickers to the side and pressed his tip to your cunt, his hand leaving his cock to grab your hip as he drove in you slowly.

"What do you want, girl?"

You grunted, feeling his size slowly filling you, spreading you open. You wanted to reply, but he stretched you so good that your mind needed a moment to answer.

"Breed me..."

Severus stared down at you, his size fully inside you now. He raised a brow, hand squeezing your hip and keeping you still as his hips began to move, to roll against you. The pace was slow, maddening, and you whined and begged for him to go faster.

"Please, more, please breed me."

He wasn't sure how to react to this. He knew your words were the aftermath of your ovulation, the effect of your hormones winning over your rationality. The problem is, he felt too good to refuse you. When he too felt this good, how could he deny your wishes?

Severus leaned forward, his chest resting on your back, keeping you trapped between himself and the desk, forced to take his thrusts obediently like a good girl. His hips began to move faster, each thrust of his hips rougher, fucking you into the desk. His face rested against your shoulder, gasping as he drove into you rougher. The hand on your hip rode up your side, to your shoulder and arm, until his hand found yours and he intertwined your fingers, keeping your hand down on the desk.

Severus made sure to thrust deeper, to rock you with each movement, to angle himself so that you would feel all of him inside you. He enjoyed the way you cried and moaned from his ministrations and went further. He maintained your hand intertwined with his while the other went down under you, to your crotch, feeling your clit and stroking it.

He made sure to whisper in your ear filthy words, then to praise you, giving you all you could take. Severus encouraged you to let go, to give in. To accept being bred if that was what you wanted.

You were feeling too good, your mind too mushy to think of anything but the overwhelming pleasure his cock provided, so you gave in, allowing the pleasure to crash over you, to welcome that orgasm as it hit you, causing your cunt to clench and throb around his cock, to milk him. He gasped, trying to resist the urge to empty himself inside you, but all of his restraint had not been enough, and he let himself go too, burying his face into your neck and pushing himself deeply inside you as he came, filling your needy cunt.

By the time he pulled away from you, he was panting, and he dressed himself swiftly so when you, too, came back to your senses, he had already erased any traces of what had taken place. You huffed and jumped off, hugging him, and he stared down at you.

"No, not yet, Professor Snape." You pleaded, and he stared away from you, toward the door to his office. "I didn't have enough, please."

He grunted, pushing you away gently.

"You insatiable girl." Severus sighed. "I have various tasks to deal with, but..."

He eyed you, then crossed his arms.

“What’s wrong now?” he curiously asks and you wonder how he ever got comfortable around you if he panicked like that over just a couple of curious looks.

“This homework is impossible. I give up” you tell him, eyes glancing at the chemistry you no longer cared about. Even if you could figure out what all of it meant, the amount you had been given was absurd.

“You don’t give up, you just need a second to collect your thoughts” he says, voice his normal quiet and hushed tone and you watch as his hand reaches and slides the book back towards you. “Give it another go”

“I’d rather die” but the pointed look he gives you convinces you to pick back up the pencil and stare at the images on the page.

“I don’t get it” you pout, half annoyed and half on the verge of tears. Welton was hard, you knew that, but it still broke your spirits just the same.

“Let me see” he says, scooting close enough that his knee bumps against your own. He’s a fool if he thinks there’s any chance you’ll pay attention to your homework now. Not when your extremely adorable boyfriend is now this close to you.

“Oh well that’s easy, here look” but when Todd’s eyes look up to meet your own he can see you’re no longer interested in whatever he’s trying to show you. The look makes his ears tint pink and you can’t help but smile.

“Todd, I don’t want to do my homework anymore” you coo, leaning your face close to him. His head swings again, searching to see if anyone was peaking in on this private interaction. He freezes when your hand reaches up and stops him.

“W-we have to study” he tells you but you let out a soft ‘shh’. Stopping his stuttering and brushing your nose against his own. His face is fire truck red in an instant.

“I’d rather kiss you” you say, hot breath fanning across his lips and you can feel his mouth opening and closing, struggling to find words in this very moment. You love how shy he can still get around you.

“You gonna stop me?” you whisper and he shakes his head in your hand, yearning for it just as much as you. With your grip still on his chin you tip his mouth up and towards your own, sealing it against you.

The soft sigh he lets out causes you to grin against his lips before closing them around his again. You kiss him briefly but enough to make him dizzy. When you pull away his eyes are closed, mind reeling and now suddenly desperate to get far away from here. You chuckle to yourself lightly, watching as he processes the moment between you.

“Can you help me with number 6?” you ask and his eyes snap open, trying to recover from the whiplash you’ve just given him. He’s a mumbling mess, head snapping between you and the text book and you offer him as innocent a grin you can muster.

“Everything okay?” you curiously ask and he smiles, laughing lightly to himself and mentally cursing himself for always falling into your traps. It made sense you were the only girl who was able to lock him down.

“Everything’s just fine” he says, sliding back close and leaning to look at the question. You watch him intently, waiting as he processes the words.

“Okay, listen close” he starts and you grin, eyes casting over the page as you’re now prepared for him to explain. He was right you definitely needed a second to collect your thoughts.

Thana Graves and George (the spider) belong to @drgravessmorgue! Let me know if I did her character justice, I tried to look at your blog posts and also the things you’ve posted in the scp rp community thingy, but I don’t know how accurate I got it to how she would actually behave in that situation.

The rest of the weekend was truly uneventful. Jordyn and the girls stayed home on Sunday, deliberately avoiding the usual brunch crowd. Bianca and Trinity, perceptive as always, didn't push her to come out, sensing she needed some quiet time to herself. Jordyn spent her Sunday buried in homework assignments, preparing for the week ahead with a focus she hadn't felt in months. Homecoming was fast approaching, and she needed to ensure nothing stood in the way of her truly enjoying this year's festivities. The past two years, homecoming had been a blur of supporting Adonis, doing what he wanted, attending his events, always playing the dutiful girlfriend. This year, Jordyn vowed she would spend time with her girls and truly savor this newfound freedom.

When Monday arrived, a knot of apprehension tightened in Jordyn's stomach. What awaited her on campus? Would the air be buzzing with whispers about her and Adonis? Would students stare, or worse, offer pitying glances? Or would the day unfold as if nothing had happened? Her mind kept buzzing with different scenarios, each one culminating in the dreaded question: would she run into Adonis?

Looking into the mirror, she took a deep breath and fluffed her curls. Regardless of everything, she had to face the world. Her education came first, and missing class was not in the plan. As the day wore on, she felt the campus itself buzzing with a new, unwelcome energy. Every hallway seemed to echo with hushed conversations, every casual glance felt loaded. She sensed the stares, heard the snippets of whispers—her name intertwined with Adonis's, then inevitably, Joshua's. The news of her public breakup had clearly spread like wildfire, turning her private drama into a campus-wide spectacle. The male attention was certainly a change. A few bold guys tried to strike up conversations in the library or after class, their smiles a little too wide, their compliments a little too eager. She politely brushed them off, still processing the sheer novelty of it all. It was flattering, in a way, but also a stark reminder that her personal drama was now public entertainment.

"What's funny?" Trinity asked when Jordyn joined the girls in the cafe for lunch.

"idk, I guess everyone finds out you're single and now has the guts to approach you." Jordyn couldn't help but chuckle. She was never the type to garner attention from guys she actually liked. If she were honest, Adonis was the first guy who truly pursued her. She wasn't skinny like most of the girls that flocked behind Adonis, and while she was a little fuller, she wasn't as thick as Trinity or as athletically built as Bianca.

"Well, that's not surprising," Bianca said, setting her plate on the table. "You are beautiful, and you did have a public breakup with Adonis in front of the world."

"Not to mention that Joshua decided to defend her honor." Montez Ford, one of the other football players and Bianca's latest conquest, added to the conversation with a playful smirk.

Lost in the swirl of her own thoughts, Jordyn had completely forgotten about Joshua's heroics and the fact that they had a tutoring session the very next day. Engulfed in her own recent drama, she hadn't even considered the potential backlash Joshua might be facing because of the incident, or how it might affect their upcoming sessions. Yet, one image kept returning to her mind: the look in Joshua's eyes as his twin walked him away. Beyond the burning fire she'd witnessed, there was also a fleeting, undeniable softness when their gazes met—something she had never noticed in Joshua before.

Joshua couldn't shake the image of Jordyn’s defiant face, illuminated by the Omega house lights, as she delivered that final, stinging slap. It had been brutal, beautiful, and utterly unexpected. He’d barely held back a grin, the satisfaction a sharp, almost dangerous thrill. Joseph and Solo might have seen it as a laugh, a moment of Adonis getting his comeuppance, but for Joshua, it was more. It was a revelation. Jordyn, finally unbound. And the thought, coupled with the glimpse of vulnerability he'd seen in her eyes, had settled deep in his gut, twisting into something inconveniently intriguing.

He'd spent the rest of Saturday night and all of Sunday trying to focus on anything else—football plays, the intricate equations of his advanced physics textbook, even sketching in his worn notebook, a habit he kept fiercely private. But Jordyn kept intruding. Her fire, her raw honesty. And the knowledge that their next tutoring session was on Tuesday, just around the corner, felt less like an obligation and more like an unavoidable appointment with a curiosity he couldn't quite define. His twin, Johnathan, had caught the look, of course. Johnathan always caught the looks. But everyone else was clueless. And that's exactly how Joshua intended to keep it. The last thing he needed was his family, especially Joseph, asking questions. Being the "playboy" was one thing; being genuinely interested was an entirely different, far more complicated beast.

"Something on your mind, son?"

Joshua’s thoughts snapped back to the present, interrupted by the deep, resonant voice of his father, Salofa. He turned to see the imposing figure, a man whose presence always seemed to fill a room, standing casually in the doorway of his dorm room. While Salofa might have genuinely believed his recent visit was a surprise, Joshua knew better. It was only a matter of time before the news of their recent incident—the party, the confrontation, Adonis on the ground—travelled from Joseph or Johnathan, or perhaps even from one of their endless network of contacts. The family grapevine was rarely slow, especially when it involved something as public as a Fatu defending someone. His father's sudden appearance was no coincidence.

Trying to hide the dancing lines on her most recent doodle, Joshua looked up at his father, feigning nonchalance. "Nothing much, Pops, just trying to figure out these problems," he responded, pointing a pencil at the physics notes scattered across his desk. He knew that wouldn't be enough to usher his father out of the room. He could almost hear the silent judgments of his other pieces, framed and unframed, displayed on the walls.

"These are interesting....." Salofa murmured, his gaze sweeping over the eclectic collection, finally settling on the most recent works Joshua had completed. The pieces ranged from intricate graffiti designs to abstract explosions of color, and even a few surprisingly tender family portraits.

"Yeah..." Joshua responded, a thread of concern lacing his tone as he watched his dad move around the room. He mentally prayed that his current, half-finished piece—a work he had poured himself into, still hidden behind the discarded canvases in the corner of his room—remained out of sight. Its subject was too raw, too personal to reveal just yet.

"So, is this the reason you haven't been focused on the field?" Salofa asked, his hand gesturing towards the canvases on the wall, his voice devoid of its earlier casualness. The question was a thinly veiled accusation. "Is this the reason we decided to attack a teammate over something as foolish as some random girl?" The word 'random' hung in the air, heavy with disdain, and a cold fury began to simmer in Salofa's tone.

Joshua knew that his next words would determine his father's next move. He took a steadying breath, fighting to contain the anger building within him. "Pops, you have always told us that women should be treated with respect. Adonis is a pompous asshole who was putting his hands on her." He defended his actions, the words tumbling out quickly. Jordyn was not some random girl, but even his defense of her felt like it made her a target in his father's eyes. "As for the game, I have just been trying to make sure my classes are up. Solo is going to be the football star; I need to make sure I am prepared to join the business," he responded, trying to shift the focus, to show he was thinking about his future, about their future.

Salofa took a second before responding, his eyes narrowing slightly, assessing Joshua. "Well.....it's nice to finally see you taking an interest in the family business." The words held a touch of skepticism, a hint of something unsaid. "We will have to see where you fit in, though. Joseph and Johnathan have a leg up on you. They have been meeting with our partners and creating new relationships." A flicker of a smirk touched Salofa's lips. "Even though it's later in the game, I am sure we can use your talent for numbers. But let's make sure that this incident does not happen again, and that girl better not be a distraction." No warning in his voice, just the cold, hard promise of dire consequences that Joshua knew came with such a declaration.

"I got it, Pops," Joshua said through gritted teeth, already rising from his seat, trying subtly to usher his father out of the room. "I need to get ready for this tutoring session today."

Salofa didn't miss the implied dismissal. "We are having dinner today with Adonis' family to apologize for your actions. Your presence is required, not requested," he stated, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. Joshua knew it was coming. Aside from being teammates, Adonis's family shared a crucial business relationship with the Fatu's, and Joshua's public actions could indeed be looked at as a very bad decision, a breach of their unspoken code. "Yes, sir," Joshua managed, the words stiff, as his dad gave his cheek a dismissive pat and walked out of the room and down the stairs to the living room where Solo and Joseph were waiting.

"You good, uce?" Johnathan's voice came from just behind him.

"Yea!" Joshua responded, turning sharply into his room, a sense of immediate, suffocating relief that his father was gone, replaced by the familiar presence of his twin. He threw himself onto the beanbag chair in the corner, hoping to blend into the shadows.

Johnathan followed him in, closing the door softly. He sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze unwavering on Joshua. "How's Jordyn?" he asked, his tone casual, but his eyes were sharp.

"Um... idk," Joshua responded, looking up at the ceiling, trying to hide. He pulled the beanbag closer to him, wrapping his arms around it as if it were a shield.

"You can lie to everyone else, uce," Johnathan said, a soft, knowing chuckle in his voice as he lightly hit his brother on the knee. "But I'm your twin. I know you better than you know yourself." He leaned forward slightly, his eyes holding Joshua's. "I saw the look you gave her. I see how you walk out of the room when Adonis would even talk about her." Johnathan could see his brother trying to find a way out, scrambling for an excuse.

"I do not know her like that, uce. I just saw she needed help and helped," Joshua said, getting up from the beanbag, pacing a small circle in the cramped space. "She is just some girl I tutor, and our teammate fucked." Joshua hoped his cruel words would sting Johnathan, would convince him to drop it, but his twin simply smiled.

"Yeah, sure," Johnathan said, standing up and walking towards the doorway. He paused there, turning back to Joshua, a glint of genuine affection and mischievousness in his eyes. "But when you see her today, tell her I said hi." Johnathan laughed, finally walking out the door as Joshua, in a burst of frustrated energy, grabbed a pillow and hurled it at the closing door.

Tuesday morning unfolded with a quiet rhythm for Jordyn. She spent most of her day immersed in the College of Pharmacy, a familiar sanctuary that, for a few hours at least, offered a temporary escape from the whispers and lingering glances that seemed to follow her across campus. Yet, while the physical distance from the gossip offered some respite, she couldn't escape the thoughts swirling in her own head. What would Josh be like today? He hadn't called to cancel their session, nor had he sent a single text about rescheduling. Would he revert to his usual brusque, almost douchebag-like demeanor, or would he perhaps apologize for his earlier, blunt assumptions about her relationship with Adonis? Confusion clouded her brain when she considered him; he could be so comforting and gentle one moment, and then ruthlessly, overly blunt with his words the next. Her worries and reservations, however, began to dissipate when she received the latest score on her Physics test. A relieved smile touched her lips. While everything else around her and Josh was confusing, she could not deny that he was truly a great tutor. She had made sure to use a lot of the strategies they had discussed during their past sessions, and it had clearly paid off. She made a mental note to show him that all his hard work was not going to waste.

As she walked out of the cool pharmacy building into the dry Tallahassee, Florida heat, she couldn't help but feel an energy of excitement building for her next session with Josh. She just needed to make it up this impossible hill to "Club Coleman," the loving nickname given to the campus Library because of how packed it would get. During their previous session, Josh had suggested moving the location of their sessions to the library, noting it was a central location for both of them. Josh could make it to the library in no time from the SBI building, and all Jordyn had to do was climb up the hill.

As she reached the steps to the library, her phone buzzed with a notification of an incoming text. It wasn't until she picked up her phone that she noticed the two texts: one from Josh letting her know he had secured a study room on the third floor toward the back of the library. The second, from an anonymous number, sent a prickle of intuition through her spirit—she decided not to read it, figuring she could handle it after her tutoring session. She made her way to the room, nervously smoothing her top as she got closer to the glass door. She stopped in her tracks when, through the transparency, she noticed Josh sitting at a table, books spread out in front of him. She was taken aback by how everything around him looked so small, his gold Cuban link chain glistening against the short-sleeved black t-shirt that hugged every muscle in his arms and chest. The sharp ding of the elevator brought her back, and she quickly walked over to the room. Just as she opened the door, her eyes met Josh's big, round, brown eyes. "God, I hope he didn't notice me staring," she prayed as she stepped inside the study room.

"Hey," she said shyly, putting her bags down across from him.

"Hey," he responded, an awkward blanket of silence immediately settling over the small room.

"I got an 80% on my last physics test," she said, holding the paper up for Josh to see, a small, awkward laugh escaping her. "All thanks to you."

He took the paper, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "I knew you'd get it. You just needed a little help." Josh smiled, handing her back the paper. "No, thanks needed."

The awkward silence returned, thick between them. "Hey..." they both started to say at the exact same time.

"You can go..." They once again caught themselves speaking at the same time. Awkwardly laughing, Joshua decided to break the silence. "How are you?" he asked in a quiet voice, softer than his usually powerful tone.

She looked down, avoiding his eyes. "I mean, I just got my highest score on one of the hardest classes this semester," she said, still unwilling to meet his gaze. "So, I'm doing pretty good."

Josh knew she was trying to avoid answering the real question. Normally, he couldn't care less if she wanted to answer or not, but for some reason, he genuinely wanted to know how she was doing, if she was really doing good. He chuckled, a soft, dry sound. "You know that's not what I'm asking. Are you handling it, or are you holding it all in?" he asked, looking at her face, hoping she would stop avoiding him.

She took a deep breath, feeling his eyes on her. "I have to say thank you for what you did. You didn't have to help me through another episode and then with the whole Adonis thing," she said, finally meeting his eye. A surge of electricity sparked through both of them as their eyes connected, a moment of raw, undeniable connection in the quiet study room.

"Good," Josh said, his voice a little rough, trying to regain his composure as he subtly broke eye contact. Not much more was said after that, as they both chose to focus on the physics problems in front of them, pushing the other thoughts spinning in their heads to the background.

An hour later, they walked side by side out of the library, the same awkward silence, now tinged with a new undercurrent, between them. "Listen, if you need anything outside of the tutoring session, let me know," Josh broke the silence, his voice returning to his usual detached helpfulness.

Jordyn couldn't help but laugh, a genuine, unforced sound that surprised even herself. "I know you're trying to be nice right now, but it sounds like you're offering other services." The words left her mouth before she could stop them, a playful jab, but as she looked at Joshua, a darkness overcame his face, and a devilish smirk appeared on his lips.

"I can help in more ways than one, Jordyn," he smirked, his voice a low rumble, leaving her breathless as he continued walking down the steps, not breaking stride.

She never really noticed how much taller Joshua was, observing how many more steps she had to take just to catch up to him. She looked him up and down once she caught up. The tones of his calves seemed to swell with each powerful step he took. "You know that it's rude to stare," he said as they came to a stop next to her car.

"Wait, how did you know my car?" Confusion was written all over her face.

"I saw you drop off Adonis a couple of times at practice," he offered with a smile.

"Ooo... yeah, forgot that," she responded, a little flustered.

Just then, John pulled up in his Gray F-250, a wide grin on his face as he brought the truck to a smooth stop in front of them. "Well, hello, little brother....." John directed at his twin, a shit-eating grin taking over his face. "Hi, Jordyn! Trinity told me I could find you here," he said, directing the conversation to Jordyn while still keeping an amused eye on his brother. "I do not mean to interrupt this moment with you lovebirds... but Pops is waiting for us."

A small groan escaped Joshua at his brother's statement. "You know I drove, right? I don't need you to babysit me," he responded, his keys jingling in his hand.

"I know..." John replied, his grin widening. "But Pops asked me to make sure you were on time." He glanced at his watch. "Well, let's go then. I do not want to be alone with the Jordans and Adonis." John looked at his brother, sharing a silent twin language between them, a shared understanding only they possessed.

"You're meeting with Adonis's family?" Jordyn interrupted their telepathy, concern etching her features.

"It's no biggie," John responded casually. "The Jordan family is one of the company's largest investors."

"Wait, are you guys in trouble because of what happened?" she asked, her concern deepening.

"Don't worry about it, Jordyn," John chuckled reassuringly.

"It's more of a power play than anything. They would lose more than we if they chose to back out," Joshua finally spoke, his voice calm, with John confirming his words with a nod in the background.

"Ugh, I am so sorry, guys," Jordyn groaned, looking up at the sky, frustrated by the ripple effect of her actions.

"For what?" John responded. "If it were me, I would have done it. Adonis is an asshole; he had that coming. It just so happens that 'Mr. Crash Out’ himself was the one who ended up being the aggressor." John laughed, a loud, booming sound.

Just then, the ringing of a phone interrupted their conversation. "Let's go, uce, Pops is calling," John said, sending the call to voicemail without a second thought. "It was nice to see you, Jordyn. Hope I get to see more of you." John gave a quick wave as he started to drive off.

"Ignore my twin, he is stupid," Joshua said, shaking his head. "I'll see you next session," he added, already walking towards his truck, only a couple of parking spots down.

"Yeah..." Jordyn responded, still trying to process all the new information she had just received and the complex interactions she'd just experienced. She watched Joshua walk to his truck, then turned and slid into her own car, the driver's side door clicking shut with a soft thud. As she pulled away from the library, her mind buzzed with a chaotic mix of relief, confusion, and a strange thrill from Joshua's parting smirk.

The drive home was short, but felt longer as she replayed the afternoon. When she walked through the front door of her house, the familiar scent of home washed over her, and she was surprised to find a scene of quiet productivity. Bianca, Montez, and Trinity were all sprawled across the living room, textbooks open, laptops humming, deeply engrossed in studying. It was a comforting, normal sight, a stark contrast to the dramatic events of her day. Jordyn felt a small, genuine smile touch her lips. This was exactly what she needed. She went up to her room, not wanting to disturb the peaceful environment. With a small head nod of acknowledgment to her friends, she made her way to her room. Once behind the comfort of the doors, she sank onto the bed, closing her eyes for a moment, only to be jolted by the sudden vibrating of her phone – a persistent reminder that an unread message still sat in her inbox.

She reached for it, her thumb hovering over the screen. The anonymous number stared back at her, ominous and insistent. With a sigh, she tapped it open.

“You think you won? This is just the beginning. You and your little Fatu protector will regret this.”

Jordyn stared at the message, her chest tightening. The relief she'd felt earlier evaporated, replaced by a cold dread. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Please share, comment, and like. Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.

They knew of each other due to being in the same year and classmates but, had never interacted before their assignment for Transfiguration in year 2. Ambrosius left Hermione to do all the work, a strategy Hermione had heard about when Neville Longbottom had mentioned how Ambrosius was when they got paired in Herbology but, Neville was more than happy to look after the plants himself.

Ambrosius managed to avoid Hermione for three days until she cornered him after breakfast one morning, telling him if he didn't meet her in the library after classes ended, she'd go straight to McGonagall. After that he met her everyday in the library after classes where they ended up learning a lot about each other due to Ambrosius asking Hermione about herself to avoid working on their assignment.

After that the two became friends, when the golden trio planned to sneak into the Slytherin common room Ambrosius got the hair samples for the polyjuice potion. After seeing the failed polyjuice failure on Hermione he stayed with her, trying to comforting her and apologizing for getting the wrong hair. He even helped her to the hospital wing by trying to keep her out of sight. Ambrosius went on to continue to help the trio with the chamber of secrets.

In year 3, Ambrosius tried to avoid Hermione and the rest of the trio as to not get dragged back into whatever mess was happening but, also because he was grieving the loss of his Mother. Hermione helped him through the grieving processes by lending her ear and shoulder to cry on. After year 3 Hermione and Ambrosius would start to meet up regularly during the summer. Since both had access to telephones they'd often speak through the phone rather than send letters.

They'd grow closer as they got older, Hermione would be the one to find him in the Forbidden Forest after being bitten and turned into a werewolf. (I'll make a post about Ambrosius lycanthropy eventually) Hermione would read through any and every book about lycanthropy she could get her hands on, She'd help with the aftermath the full moon with numbing potions she'd brew to ease the pain of the transformation, and spells to help muffle sounds and smells so they didn't overwhelm him anymore than he already was.

If you had thought Professor Membrane would allow you to go home-- where you would be unsupervised-- you were sorely mistaken. Any and all of your protests that you were perfectly fine and able to take care of yourself were quickly destroyed by his rebuttal that just because you appeared to ‘fine’ now didn’t mean something could occur through the night. 

So once again you found yourself staying the night with the Membrane Family. Plus Zim, who like Membrane seemed to go on high-alert every time you winced from the headache that liked to suddenly go from a dull ache to a sharp stab. Zim would fuss while Membrane more or less dragged you back down to his lab for another round of tests and scans. 

One would think you would enjoy the attention, especially from the professor himself. But in truth, it was overwhelming. To have people who cared enough to fuss over you wasn’t exactly something you typically dealt with. You had always relied on yourself and no one else. No one else had ever been around to care, let alone to the extreme of this. 

An invader couldn’t rely or trust anyone but themself. To show weakness or compassion was a death sentence. 

Despite currently being alone, you still tried to refrain from reacting to the stab of pain and renewed your focus on the homework you were grading.

You had tried to reason that grading assignments was a reason for you to return to your home, but Zim had quickly interjected that Gir could gather anything and everything you would need. Before you could protest, he had already ordered Gir via his pak backpack walkie-talkie. Less than ten minutes late, the tiny bot and Mini Moose returned riding a giant pig that vomited half of your apartment on the living room floor.  Including the contents of your underwear drawer. Which had just added the cherry to the top of the horrible situation as your private garments fell at the feet of both your students and Professor Membrane.) 

You should probably retire to the guest room and try to get a few hours of sleep, but the fact you kept getting caught up in your head meant you hadn’t finished half of the grading that you meant to. Instead the day replayed itself over and over in your head-- so much like the Expo. You had almost died--or worse. Why had you been so rash? To protect yourself? Or Zim? Either way, how was that going to play out? Once he was assured you were as okay as you hoped, you were sure Membrane would push for more answers. 

Would this break his refusal to believe in extraterrestrials? Or would he accept the idea that two twelve year olds managed to do the impossible? What if he did finally push through that mental block and admit aliens were real? And  that Zim was one of them? What would you do? What could  you do? 

Then there were the headaches. The flashes of memories and images that were not your own. Knowledge that you never learned. Your mind was rebelling against it, struggling to process and accept the information that had been forced in. 

“While I was initially wary of you sleeping, you have proven to have no apparent brain injury that would contradict sleep, Mx. Nemo.” 

You looked up from your computer and saw Membrane lingering at the doorway to his basement lab. You hadn’t heard the floor open, let alone him climbing the stairs. 

“I need to finish grading,” you explained, rubbing your face to both wake yourself up and force your thoughts to focus. “I shouldn’t be longer than another hour or so.” 

“It’s already two in the morning,” he said skeptically. “Sleep deprivation is scientifically proven to be unhealthy and will negatively impact your healing as well as your ability to function tomorrow.” 

You shifted in your seat, feeling sufficiently chastened for a moment before remembering all of his own late-night emails. “You wouldn’t happen to be talking from experience, would you?”  

There was a flush of color to what you could see of his face. “I may be a bit of a hypocrite,” he acknowledged. “However, that doesn’t mean I;m wrong. Especially considering the ordeal you've been through.” 

You didn’t really think anything of him crossing the kitchen to check the bandage on the back of your neck--he had done so several times through the evening to assure there was no more drainage-- be it blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Yet, despite his repeated checking, it still gave you goosebumps as Membrane’s hands carefully pushed aside your hair, his fingers grazing your neck softly. You knew there was nothing but betal beneath his gloves, yet that didn't dampen the fact you found the gesture almost intimate in a way. 

Maybe you should give into sleep after all. 

“I’m still astounded and perplexed,” he whispered, tracing the edge of the dressing. You forced a wry smile, even though he couldn’t see you. 

“I think the fact you all but admit that the fact I am not dead is a miracle has made that quite clear.” 

“While I dislike the notion of supernatural intervention, you have somehow defied all ration expectations. But I am also talking about the idea of you volunteering for this experiment.”

Ah. You had just been pondering this situation as well. 

“Yeah, I uh…” Nothing was coming to you, making you scramble for your words. ‘I was too trusting. Too worried about everything. Too impulsive.’ “I messed up,” you finally finished. “I'm sorry.” 

“...science is as much as successes as it is learning from mistakes. I am thankful that this time there were no disastrous consequences.” Membrane took a seat next to you. “I have had time to review my earlier actions, and I do apologize for allowing that emotional outburst.” 

Your brows knitted together as you frowned. “You mean back in the lab? Professor, that was nothing to apologize for…” 

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “As a man of science, I should not allow my emotions to affect me like that.”

Without thinking, you took his hand in yours. “You may be a man of science, but you’re also just a man. One whose friend did something incredibly stupid and impulsive. If anything, I'm touched. I-I never really had others worry for me like that.” 

Professor Membrane held your hand tightly for a long moment, silent as he reflected on your words. Maybe it was because you were finally able to reflect on the events yourself, but… your words were far more heartfelt then he probably knew.  You weren’t exaggerating when you said that you hadn’t had anyone care for you like this. Not because of any duty or obligation like the foster homes and orphanages you had been shuffled through but because he genuinely cared for you. 

If you weren’t already falling in love with him, the revelation alone would have had you falling heads over heels. As it was, it made your chest clench and a lump formed in your throat. 

“The impending possibility of your death scared me in ways I’m not quite familiar with,” Professor finally spoke. “I have lost many coworkers to workplace accidents, but never have I felt the absolute terror I did seeing you like that.” 

You recalled the intimate moment in the lab as he admitted to something familiar. Had anyone really cared if you lived or died before? Your parents certainly hadn’t, and everyone else was likely more concerned with the paperwork that would be involved. 

Without thinking, you followed the impulse of your tired brain and stood, closing the distance between you and leaned over awkwardly to give him a hug. Before you could even begin to worry about stepping over a boundary, Professor Membrane wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into his lap, pressing you tightly against him. To say the least, you were more than a bit surprised, as well as flustered. 

But oddly, you were also comfortable. When--if ever-- did you have someone hug you so tightly? Your heart was pounding while feeling so full and complete at the same time. You decided to just go with the flow and leaned your head against his shoulder. No words were spoken, leaving the kitchen peacefully quiet as you both took comfort in each other. 

--+--

Your phone was ringing. 

The other staff in the break room gave you an odd look, and you could hardly blame them. Here it was, seven in the morning, and your phone was letting out an overly cheery tone. 

At least it was Friday.

"Uh, sorry," you apologized as you fished your phone from your pocket, embarrassment turning to worry when you saw it was Professor Membrane. You had just seen him a little more than an hour before as you rushed out the door-- Granted that had  just been in passing with barely a hello and goodbye. After months of usually either skipping breakfast over having something very quick and easy, it had been a delight to wake up to a full breakfast of your favorites prepared by Foodio that you had lost track time. 

When the professor had entered the kitchen, you coincidently  were suddenly aware of how late it was and suddenly bolted out the door. 

The little video screen popped to life with a faint blue glow. “Is everything okay?"

Professor Membrane tilted his head slightly, "I was actually about to ask the same question. I  wasn’t able to ask before you left this morning, and wanted to be sure you didn't develop any issues through the night." 

You blushed as you shook your head, still unused to the idea that he, or anyone else, worried about your wellbeing. "No, I'm… I'm good " 

He didn't seem convinced as he tilted his head. "Are you sure? Headache? Double vision? Nausea? Photophobia?"

"Professor, I'm fine. I promise." You could see his shoulders slump slightly in relief, and then noticed how pale and frazzled he looked himself. "If anything, I'd say your the one looking a bit ill. Are you feeling okay?" 

He glanced away, rubbing his neck, looking….guilty? "Er, I did not sleep the best."

You snorted at that, “Well, considering it was well past three am when we finally went to bed, I’m not that surprised. We could reschedule our plans later if you--"

"No, absolutely not." He interrupted, surprising you, and by the looks of it, himself as well. "I mean, there's no need for that, Mx. Nemo. I'll be fully rested and ready for this evening. As long as you are feeling up to it as well." 

The bell rang, announcing that classes would soon begin. “I’ll be up to it, promise. But don’t push yourself too hard, okay?” 

You could see the hints of a smile, as well as that decreasingly rare blush. "I'm positive. Not even another mass hallucination would stop me, Mx. Nemo. Have a good day and I'll see you this evening."

You smiled softly. "Alright, have a good night, Professor." 

The call ended, and you finally became aware of the other teachers in the room. You half-expected it to be empty after the last bell, yet most of them were gawking at you. "What?" 

"Are you dating Professor Membrane?" The art teacher hazard, one of the few you felt somewhat comfortable around. 

"What?” you squawked, feeling your face burn with embarrassment. “No! We're just friends!" 

"That’s not what it sounded like," someone teased, earning a few snorts and snide agreements. “Unless you’re talking about friends with benefits.” 

"Oh good stars, that is not what happened!” You protested. “We are literally just friends!” 

No one seemed convinced as they left the small breakroom to disperse into the chaotic halls, making you groan. You knew they liked to gossip as much as the students, meaning the whole school was going to think the worst by the end of the day.

You just prayed Zim and Dib never heard any of the outlandish rumors, else you would really be in trouble. 

--+--

Boltzmann was sick and tired of you. It was bad enough that an adult believed in that 'special snowflake propaganda' but then you further aligned yourself with the students, and the oddballs and weirdos at that. But to hear the rumors of your ‘friendship’ Professor Membrane? Boltzmann felt sick as all he heard from his coworkers was gossip about you and the famous scientist, ranging from the innocent to the rather explicit. 

If it was true-- and that was a huge if-- it was obvious you had somehow tricked or fooled him into thinking you were something you were not. He gagged just thinking how anyone could be attracted to you, and refused to believe that part of the stories were even remotely true

He was going to catch you in your lie. He was going to end this --end you-- once and for all. You had caused him far too much trouble. 

After school he followed you on the public bus, and then to your apartment in one of the rundown parts of town. He felt unsafe as he watched people come and go, knowing exactly what kind of people lived in neighborhoods like this. People like you. People who tricked, lied, and stole to make their way through life. You weren't even probably meeting up with Professor Membrane! It was all just a trick to get people to respect you! 

But then you exited the worn down apartment complex, dressed in something more casual than your teaching outfit, and Boltzmann sneered as you waved to a couple of your neighbors that were likely up to no good as they loitered around the stoop of the building.

He weaved in and out of the crowd as he followed you, hopping back on a bus headed towards your next destination. He kept his phone handy, ready to record evidence of your lies. 

Except you led him to one of the newer downtown shops, simply named the Tea Room. It was hard for Boltzmann to remain unseen as you waited near the entrance, looking sketchy as you kept an eye out, but he managed to find a place behind one of the bus signs to watch. 

Who were you actually meeting? What dirty little secrets did you have hidden up your sleeves? 

So focused on you, he missed a familiar figure walk past him until you looked over and waved. Boltzmann froze, thinking he had been caught for a split second before realizing no, you wouldn't be so happy to see him. The realization came a second before he noticed the not-quite-metaphorical giant standing between you and him. 

"I'm glad you didn’t have any trouble finding the place," Professor Membrane spoke as he approached you, leaving Boltzmann with his jaw nearly touching the ground. 

"Of course not. Besides, I think Dib only reminded me a dozen times throughout the day," you laughed, looking happier than the science teacher had ever seen. "Everytime I turned around, there he was. Almost like he was trying to be ready for something. Well, him and Zim. I swear I had two extra shadows today between them." 

"I should probably confess I asked Dib to keep an eye on you today for me," Professor Membrane confessed. “Though I probably should have expected him to be a bit… overly enthusiastic.” 

It was really him. And he seemed to more than just acquaintances by the way his hand hovered near the small of your back as he ushered you into the small shop, your laugh chiming like the bell of the door. Boltzmann watched through the large windows with a muted sense of horror as you and the professor talked, seemingly at ease and familiar with one another while inspecting the shelves lined with different kinds of teas. 

Okay. So back to his first thought-- you had obviously somehow tricked the leading scientist to believe you were something special. You probably roped those two brats as well, using his own son against him. 

Fueled by rage (and maybe some jealousy), Boltzman gave up his cover and stormed into the tea shop, the soft bells clanging harshly as he threw open the door. 

"Mr. Boltzmann?" You asked after a moment of silence fell over the little shop, confusion obvious on your face. 

"You scheming, lying deceitful witch!" Boltzman sneered, pointing at you. "I knew you were trouble the first day when you tried to get us to use that silly title of yours!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" You snarled back, instantly on the defensive as you put your hands on your hips. 

"Wait, is that Boltzmann the teacher Dib and Zim talk about?" Professor Membrane interrupted, looking down at you for an answer.

“Unfortunately,” you sighed as if Boltzmann was nothing more than a minor annoyance 

No. He was going to catch you red handed and expose you as the fraud you were. Membrane wouldn’t be looking at you but him. "I don't know what stories she's told you," Boltzmann snarled, "but Miss Nemo is nothing more than a mediocre English teacher desperate for attention! She's always--"

"They." Professor Membrane interrupted, confusing Boltzmann for a moment. "And it's Mx. Nemo, not miss." 

No. No no no. That couldn't be right! "You're kidding, right? She's obviously a woman, look at her!” He shouted as he gestured to you. “All this bullshit gender thing is just to get attention!" 

Boltzmann had a moment of success as he watched your face turn red, though he wasn't sure if it was embarrassment or anger, but he didnt care. He caught you! You was going to expose you and get the attention--

"I thought you were the science teacher," Professor Membrane asked and he cheered for a second before realizing the scientist was still talking to him. "Surely you've studied biology past the high school level to understand the difference between sex and gender." 

"I-I have, but there's not…" was he really going to argue? No, not with Professor Membrane, the man was the world’s leading genius. "But that's besides the point! She's not to be trusted! I've seen her hanging out with those troublemakers, and I know something fishy is up! There's no way Dib and Zim's parents are fine with them hanging around a grown woman all the time!" 

You and Professor Membrane looked at each other, and Boltzmann felt ill. "You are aware Dib is my son," Professor Membrane stated slowly. "And I have been helping Mx. Nemo on their extracurricular projects. I have been very pleased with their influence over the boys, and think it is admirable that they have given so much time and effort into helping them. What I don't appreciate is your implication that Mx. Nemo had ulterior motives." 

Boltzmann could only gape as he felt like everything was falling apart. This had gone wrong in so many ways. This was not how it was supposed to turn out! Professor Membrane was supposed to believe him, not you!

"I'm sorry, Professor," you spoke, turning towards him. "I know we planned on this just to be a time to destress and talk." 

"No, no!" Boltzmann whined. "You-you can't actually be dating her! She's just-just one of those special little snowflakes! She's just an English teacher!" 

"This isn't a date!" Both you and the professor defended, faces turning red. At least there was that.  

"Why are you even here?" You shot back. "Isn't it enough I have to work with you and Meyer, now I have to put up with your phobic ass outside of work?! Can't you just leave us alone?" 

"No! Because I don't trust people like you! You're obviously up to something! I don't know what it is, but I'll prove your not as good and innocent as you claim to be!" He may have lost this battle, but the war was far from over. He would uncover the truth and prove you were not what you seemed.  

"I don't claim to be anything like that! I'm just trying to live my life, my truth, and help the kids that you decide aren't worth your time! You’re the only one claiming that I'm something I'm not!"

Boltzmann was about to point out you were trying to indoctrinate children with your so-called ‘truth’ when a large hand fell on his shoulder. Boltzman looked at the person that dared to touch him, but paled at the tall, muscular… woman? Man? 

 He wasn't sure, and too terrified to ask. "Sir, I'm going to need you to leave. You’re disturbing my guests."

"She started it!" Boltzmann tried to argue rather childishly despite knowing internally he had lost.

"No, sir. You did. Please leave before I notify the police." 

--+--

"I can't believe him," you growled, covering your face in embarrassment after Boltzmann was escorted out by the owner of the teashop-- a tall burly transwoman the Professor had greeted as Madam Gappa.. Of all the things to happen today, that had not been one of the ones you had worried about. "I just, I'm so sorry, Professor. I know we've been looking forward to this, well at least I have been, and…"

"I refuse to let that ruin our meeting," he interrupted, his hand gripping your far shoulder reassuringly. "If anything, I believe we need this more. I know Madam Gappa has some blend to ease stress." 

As if summoned by the mere mention, Madam Gappa appeared and smiled widely. "Only the best for my fellow tea lovers. I'll bring a nice selection if you want to take a seat in one of our rooms.” 

You couldn't argue with that, not when the professor’s hand settled on the small of your back as he guided you towards the hallway that led to the sitting areas. It was so surprising how warm and large his hand was, easing the stress that had settled in your back without you noticing. 

The back rooms were just like ones you had seen in television shows (okay, anime mainly.) Big enough for a central table, comfortable low couches and chairs surrounding. Some had their doors open, groups of friends laughing and chatting over a few steaming cups, while others had their frosted glass doors closed. 

Once you reached a room and you were ushered in first, you expected that Professor Membrane would sit across from you. But no, he settled into the bench next to you, not necessarily crowding you but close enough you could feel his warmth. 

He shifted to face you, and you turned even more as he cupped your face, studying your face intently.

And then suddenly a small pen light shined in your eyes, making you flinch from the suddenness. His grip only tightened slightly, just enough to keep you still. "I just want to check your neurological signs right quick." 

"Professor," you sighed, but didn’t offer any other objections as he checked your eyes with his pen light, and had you follow his finger back and forth, up and down.  Or when he carefully checked the puncture wound on your neck, trying to ignore the goosebumps caused by his hands gently touching the sensitive skin, brushing it almost tenderly as he peeled the bandage away  

"Well, doctor, what's the prognosis?" You couldn't help the small tease in your tone afterwards. "Am I going to live?" 

"Amazingly, I believe so," he murmured with all seriousness. "It's a scientific marvel. You are an outlier. Neurolinks are still theoretical because of the 90% mortality rate, and not one simulation has yet ended with success. I was concerned that a deficit would appear over time. Yet…here you are." 

"You were really worried, huh?" You asked as you turned back around once he replaced the dressing on your neck.

"I spent most of the night making scenarios and courses of action. I was certain that at least one of them would occur, that I'm having difficulty accepting that they haven't happened." 

You closed the distance between you and wrapped your arms around him. Maybe it was because you had a hard time accepting that one impulsive decision could have ruined your life, or maybe it was because you weren't used to others worrying so much about you, or the fact he apparently cared so much about you…

Or maybe you were already addicted to being close to him. Of not just being allowed to be affectionate with someone, but with him specifically. 

"I'm fine, Professor. Really, I am," you muttered into his labcoat, about ready to pull away when he wrapped his arms around you after a moment of hesitation. 

"I apologize if I've been a nuisance. It's just… I'm not usually wrong in my theories, though this time I am thankful I am." 

"Oh, pardon me," Madam Gappa's voice cut through the moment, and you forced yourself to untangle from Professor Membrane. Madam Gappa had a bitten-back smile on her lips as she placed the tray she was carrying onto the table. "I handpicked a few of my relaxing blends, and labeled them for your convenience. Do you want me to close the door to provide you two with some privacy?" 

"We're just friends," you and the professor defended at the same time, and you couldn’t help but wonder if he felt like his face was burning as well, or if he was simply annoyed by the assumption.  

Either way, Madam Gappa wasn't swayed and winked an eye. "Of course, my dears. I could only imagine how the papers would react if the infamous Professor Membrane was caught in a relationship. My lips are sealed, don't you worry. I'll just close this door so you can resume your discussions in private."

The muscular woman closed the frosted glass door before you could protest anymore, which did not help the situation any. "I've forgotten how much the rest of society focuses on romantic and sexual relationships," Professor Membrane groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

"Me too," you sighed, trying hard not to acknowledge the prickly feeling in your chest at the apparent negative reaction. Being friends with him was more than you had ever imagined possible. And friendship could be such a rewarding relationship without romance or anything else.

Even if you were interested in that way towards him. You had read many of gossip columns and theories online about the Professor being a part of the Ace spectrum and it was certainly looking like they weren’t far off the mark. 

And you would happily accept that as easily as he accepted you, and deal with your feelings on your own.  You weren't going to be one of those cringy people hanging around hoping he would 'reward' you for your friendship.

"Let's share this tea," you suddenly changed the subject, upset by your own thoughts and feelings. 

"Was that an attempt at a joke, Mx Nemo?"

"Er, maybe?” Stars, why did you even say that? Did this all really fluster you that  much? “Though I think the kids call it spilling the tea? Or maybe it's lets get this bread? I-I really don't know where I was trying to go with that,” you finished with an embarrassed chuckle. 

Thankfully, it just seemed to amuse the scientist. "It seems I'm not the only one capable of a poor joke." 

You shot him a dark look, "Mixing up my lingo is far different than saying we're stuck on an elevator while our boys are missing." 

"Er, I suppose you're right." He guiltily admitted, and any bragging on your part was lost as he unzipped the first few inches of his lab coat, exposing his face to sip at the cup of tea. 

You hadn't realized you had been staring until he cleared his throat, moving his hand in your field of vision to catch your attention. "Mx Nemo? Are you sure you're okay?" 

"Yes! Yes! Absolutely fine! Oh stars, I'm so sorry about that!!" You turned to your own cup, gulping it down without tasting it as you avoided looking at him. 

But you could still see it. The firm jawline, the dusky colored lips. The dark stubble. 

The scars. 

You had shared meals with him, and he had so carefully avoided revealing his lower face. You needed to respect him and not  make a big deal of it…

But the chance to see him. Your gaze kept drifting to him despite your best attempt to act nonchalant, and eventually Professor Membrane noticed. He winced, and you could see his lips twist into a frown. "Oh, right. Sorry, I hope I haven't ruined your appetite, I've been told they're quite off putting. 

Wait, "What? No! No no no," you reached out as he went to cover his face, halting his actions as you grabbed his hands. "That's not it! I wasn't staring at your scars, it's more the fact that I've never seen your face before! I was just surprised! I promise, they're not off putting or whatever! You're undeniably handsome with or without them! Their not-their not bad…" 

You were full on rambling, and finished weakly, far too aware of the blush on his cheeks. As well as the blush on your own, and how your hands were holding his. You quickly let go and stuffed your hands underneath your legs out of habit to keep them to yourself. 

It was so odd and fascinating to be able to see his expression so openly, even with his goggles still covering his eyes. The faint blush on his cheeks, the faint frown on his lips as he tried to process your words. 

And seeing him talk. Why was it so captivating simply watching his lips move? "Er, well, thank you. Though, you don't need to 'sugar coat' on my behalf. Humans as a species instinctively shy away from others who show signs of damage, even though our culture and society have grown far past things, our primate minds still recoil at such things." 

"To accept that is to accept the whole gender is defined by one's sexual chromosomes' argument," you argued. "As you said, that's our 'primitive' parts. We should be able to easily move past such things in our day and age. You're handsome and deserve to be told so. Not despite your scars or because of them, their just simply  part of you as much as your eyes or hair."

His expression shifted from calm to surprised, to rather flustered as his cheeks turned pink. "Oh, hm. I believe I can understand your earlier sentiments of appreciation more. Fascinating."

You smiled and nudged him lightly. "Validation feels nice. Though I am upset that people have led you to cover your face. Granted, things would be a little more difficult for you with that handsome mug of yours."

Aaaand you said that. Outloud. Thankfully(?) he took it as a joke and chuckled as he returned his focus to his tea. "Well, it's not the only reason. This fabric  is specially designed to filter air, both any pollution in the environment, as well as preventing any unintended contaminants from ruining an experiment. It also has aided in decreasing my typical allergies as well as infections." 

You barely understood half of what he said as he delved into more details, but enjoyed listening as well as watching him. You were once again struck by the similarities between him and his son.

But what really made you grin was the few times he caught you staring, your tea forgotten, and you could watch him blush as he took a sip of his tea. As embarrassing as getting caught was, it was worth being able to see him emote like anyone else. 

Then he had to turn the tables on you, asking questions about your own job and life. Which, yes, this was a…a get together to get to know each other outside of Dib and Zim, but you still felt awkward as you glossed over the less than terrific parts of your life (aka, most of it) and focused on your highlights such as teaching, your love of literature and language that led you to become an English teacher. 

You had seen your earlier interest mirrored in his own expression, cursing how he really had turned the tables on you. But you weren't as interesting as him, you never found a solution to world hunger, cured the common cold, or found a comprehensive screen for cancer with a poke of the finger. You were just… you. Completely ordinary and unspecial. 

Yet he looked at you as if your were one of the most fascinating things he had seen. 

Your ramblings came to a slow death, and silence settled briefly as you enjoyed the tea (it really was exceptional, far better than the instant tea powder or the cheap bags you bought at the store.) 

"If you don't mind me asking," Professor Membrane broke the silence after a moment. "They boys said you were helping with a project, but never explained what kind of project exactly involved human trials with a neuro link." 

Ah. Right. You supposed you should have expected that question. "Well, uh, it's complicated." 

He only tilted their head. "How so?"

All day you had tried to think of a rational answer, and couldn’t think of anything. So… you were going to tell the truth. Or at least a little bit of it. It still set your nerves on edge. "Er, well, how much do you know about Zim's family?" 

It felt so strange to see him visibly perplexed., "Uh, I suppose I haven't met his parents?" 

You took a deep breath, part of you felt guilty sharing  Zims secret, at least part of it. But at the same time, it was a relief. "That's because his parents…" he didn't have parents. He was an alien invader created in a lab. "His parents left him a long time ago," you bit out, fighting off a headache and didn't even think as you continued. "Kinda like mine. And well, Boltzman was looking into it and I didn't want him to end up in the system like I did." 

Membrane was silent, scarred lips twisted into a frown. And it was then, with the headache fading, you realized what you said, and the very real probability that he did not feel the same way about the system as you. 

Oh god. What if he reported Zim himself? Turned you in for child endangerment or something? 

"I mean, I'm probably biased, but I don't think the foster system would be a good place for some," defective alien invader "child like Zim with… special needs."

"I see…" he trailed off, still frowning and clearly lost in thought.  "That is rather…informative." 

"I'm taking care of him," you continued, fear grasping your heart as panic started to bubble. And with it, your ability to control your words quickly deteriorated. "I've been in his shoes, so I think-I think I can handle it. We can handle it, the boys and I, we just needed some info for his parent drones and it was going to take so long to answer the function and this was a faster way. I just want to protect him from enduring the same hell I went through being passed from house to house, the difficulties of changing schools, always wondering when you were going to move again. I mean, he already has a hard time with social situations and--"

Membrane interrupted your panicked ramblings, his tone soft and firm. "Breathe, Mx. Nemo."

You couldn't. Those memories and emotions you tried to repress started bubbling up. Worse, the thought of Zim enduring the same things while you were to blame, all because you stuck your nose where it didn't belong. Your breaths soon came out as gasping wheezes, tears stinging your eyes. 

Your brain felt like it was on fire as that little voice kept whispering in your ear that Zim wasn't a human child, but an extraterrestrial invader. That what awaited him was far worse than what you endured, and it was still all your fault. Capture, imprisonment. Dissection. 

"Mx Nemo, breathe. Nothing is going to happen to Zim." His hands clasped your shoulders, firm and reassuring, helping you to ground yourself. He instructed you to breathe in and out, slowly and calmly, all the while holding your gaze. 

The tension slowly lessened, though refused stubbornly to disappear completely. But at least you could breathe. Think. "Sorry," you automatically apologized. "I'm sorry. I just…I just…" didn't want Zim to suffer as you did. Even if he wasn't a human child, you still felt protective of him. 

"I've seen panic attacks before in many coworkers, and there is nothing to apologize for," he reassured. "But, did these occur before the incident, or…?"

"It's been a while since I had one like that, but they happen," you explained distractedly. "I just…I'm so worried. I know what I'm doing isn't strictly legal, but…I think it's the right thing." 

Professor Membrane hummed thoughtfully, his hands still resting on your shoulders. "While I am hesitant to trust your judgment regarding safety of experiments," he said, and you realized he was attempting to joke. "I do trust you in this. Zim is indeed a very rare child, and I believe it's unfortunately been proven  that our public systems are not suited to accommodate those with special needs."