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'Benjamin didn't break any rules. You can't move him to records.' Mansa folded his arms and glared at the chief.

'You think I would want to desert Adira's brother? The fact is nobody wants him as partner anymore. There's no job left for him to do other than records.'

'What does Adira say?'

'She doesn't know, yet. But there's nothing she can do to help.' the chief sighed, 'She's not allowed to lead Benjamin because conflict of interests.'

'What about me?'

'You? You want me to pay for more things you wreck because of a new partner?' the lion shook his head in disbelief, 'And you would like to trade Adira for her much less capable brother? I don't think so.'

'That is exactly my wish.'

The chief flashed his most iconic grin, 'But he's been assigned to records for the whole week. As his partner you'll have to work with him down there. Still interested?'

Mansa audibly ground his teeth. He knew the chief was tormenting him for how he treated the lion in the past, but he was determined to keep Benjamin company, 'Deal.'

'Splendid. You'll be assigned to records starting from tomorrow.' The chief was pleasantly surprised.

'So you managed to not break his nose?'

Adira and Mansa were patrolling the streets on the same cruiser without a radio. It was the last day of their partnership.

'If he did insult Ben I would crush him. But he was pretty polite to Ben...'

'Because of me.' Adira snarled, 'That's a very dick move by him, putting both of you to records. If no one takes Ben he can just force someone to. He's the boss!'

'He knew I would volunteer.' Mansa said bitterly, 'He knew I wouldn't just let your brother get stuck alone at records the first week as a cop because we're partners.'

Adira digested all this. Was she really that important to him that Mansa willingly sacrificed his career for her brother?

'Hang on, can you stop here?' Mansa pulled up the car upon hearing Adira's request.

Adira opened the door and walked into a CD shop. She returned a short while later, clutching a square prism wrapped in Gazelle gift paper.

'What is this, farewell gift?' Mansa asked when she climbed back onto her seat, 'I thought you hated Gazelle.'

'I do. This is for Ben, birthday this Saturday.' Adira carefully placed the present next to her, 'I thought you aren't into sappy stuff like farewell gifts.'

'No.' Mansa stepped on the gas pedal, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't a tiny bit hopeful that the present was for him.

Mansa took out his phone later that night and saw 5 messages from <CHEEtah>.

<CHEEtah> Hey I got 2 front row seats for the Gazelle concert at Sahara Square this Saturday. Care to join me?

<CHEEtah> We fought so many battles on the forum together. I'd like to meet u

<CHEEtah> Why aren't you replying my messages, are u sick?

<CHEEtah> OMG plz don't be sick

<CHEEtah> Hello?

<BUFFalo> Hi. Sorry for not replying. I didn't get to use my phone the whole day.

<CHEEtah> I have lots of time to use my phone though. Work is so boring!

<CHEEtah> So, u free this Saturday night?

<BUFFalo> Yes.

<CHEEtah> YAY that's settled then. I'll send u the details later

Mansa smiled. As much as he hated the records, at least he had something to look forward to this week. This CHEEtah person reminded him of Benjamin. Maybe he'll invite Ben along to the concert tomorrow.

<BUFFalo> Do you have access to more tickets? I have a friend that also loves Gazelle a lot.

<CHEEtah> Sorry 2 is the max I can get :(

<BUFFalo> K

Mansa sought out Adira from the crowd of officers the next morning.

'Adira, I want to ask you something.'

'What is it?'

'I want to treat a friend to dinner in Sahara Square. Do you know any good places that open until late at night?'

'Hmm... if you're looking for fine-dining, ask Ben. He's the connoisseur, not me.'

'I'll be sure to ask him. Thanks.'

Mansa walked down to the records room and sat down next to Benjamin.

'Hey, Ben. I'm looking for a place for dinner in Sahara Square. I want to treat a friend to dinner really late into the night.'

'Oh there's a place that I really like to go for midnight snacks. It caters for both predators and prey! Whoever your friend is will love it!'

'Name of the restaurant?'

'Palm Lobster.'

Mansa put on his glasses and marked it down on a notepad.

'I like your glasses, so cute!' Benjamin said, putting his on.

'Um... thanks.' Mansa's ears turned red, 'I like yours too.'

They quickly grew silent after sorting files for a while. Mansa was starting to get a little heat stressed. His ears grew hot and sweat steadily dripped onto the files he was working on.

'Mansa, are you okay? You look a little flustered.' Benjamin stood up and touched Mansa's forehead, 'Oh my god you're having a fever. I'll go get us some water. BRB!'

Benjamin ran straight to the pantry. He let out a sigh of relief when he exited the records room. The room was musty and lukewarm and definitely not mammal-friendly.

He found a water dispenser and cups at the pantry. That is not going to last long, he tilted his head in thought as he saw how small the cups are. He went straight for the water gallons and started to drag one back with some difficulty.

He had to take a drink from the gallon on his way back. The bottle was a bit large for him to handle.

Benjamin returned and saw Mansa laying his head on the table.

'Mansa, I'm back!' He put down the bottle and patted the buffalo a few times.

'You got the water?' Mansa asked weakly as he slowly pulled himself up.

'I got a whole gallon. You don't mind if I already drank some straight from the bottle? I can go back for a cup if you...'

Mansa grabbed the gallon with shaking hands and started drinking deeply.

'Whoa slow down, Mansa.' Benjamin helped hold the bottle steady as Mansa took large gulps of water, 'You don't want to get water down the wrong pipe.'

'glug, glug, glug, Awk COUGH COUGH cough...' Mansa choked on water.

'My god. Are you alright?' Benjamin rubbed his back hard. He read online not to pat a choking mammal.

'Thanks.' The buffalo replied raspily as he continued to cough.

'Well how are we doing today boys?' Adira opened the door with a bang and strode in. She froze as she saw Benjamin's paws still on the other mammal's back.

'Sis, why is the room so hot? Mansa nearly died from heat stroke just now.' Benjamin continued rubbing Mansa as he asked.

'You're sitting by the boiler, Ben. And you two smell.' Adira wrinkled her nose, 'Were you two doing something weird just now?'

'Fuck... the... boiler...' Mansa managed to speak.

'Don't think about breaking it, Mansa.' Adira warned him, 'There's a reason why the chief installed it a few months ago.'

'Cops... no... need... hot... showers...'

'Come on, it's something that only girls understands. There're days in a month when you absolutely need to take hot showers, okay? So don't think about wrecking the boiler, or the whole station of girls would be after your tail.'

Mansa finally stopped coughing, 'Wait is that blood on your knuckle?'

'Oh yeah it is. I bashed the chief's nose in for you.' Adira looked at her fist fondly before continuing, 'In return, can you do me a favor?'

'Anything, Adira, after what you did for me.'

'Ben is going to a concert with a friend he met online this Saturday. Can you go with him? I don't want him to get into any trouble with the stranger. Keep him safe, okay?'

'But sis, like I said I don't have any more tickets!' Benjamin whined, 'I like Mansa to go with me but how can he find a ticket in four days? They're sold out days ago!'

'It's fine, Ben. A friend of mine has ticket for me.' Mansa remembered the conversation he had with <CHEEtah>, 'I'll go with you on Saturday.'

'Aw really? This is going the best birthday ever!' Benjamin cupped his face eagerly, 'I can't wait for Saturday to come!'

'Alright so that's settled then. Enjoy your date, both of you!' Adira giggled and left the room.

'Hold on...' Mansa called after Adira, but the door had already closed. He turned his head and saw Benjamin still cupping his chin and staring lovingly at him.

'It's a date, right?' Benjamin asked hopefully.

Mansa couldn't help but admire how cute Benjamin looked. His eyes, his cheeks, his spots, his silky fur...

'It's a date.' Mansa's chest grew fuzzily warm when he thought about the happy date they're planning.

The date that neither of them attended.