“So here’s what I’m proposing…” said the diminutive lizard, “I get a test subject for my science fair project, and you get to be bigger and stronger for your team, and impress your boyfriend. Well, impress him more, you Gristle McThornbody.”

Dunphy and Bip were an unexpected friend pairing — Dunphy, the epitope of “jock,” a yoked tiger with arms thicker than most guys’ legs — and Bip, every bit as stereotypical but in the “nerd” direction, a slender gecko not even two thirds the tiger’s height, and his whole waist probably smaller than Dunphy’s arms.

Hadn’t always been that way. Originally their dynamic centered around bullying, you can probably guess from and to whom…but Dunphy had come to learn that his worst impulses were an attempt to compensate for repressed sexuality. He liked boys, and acting cruel and tough was a pathetic cover-up. Not only had he come to terms with this, but even went so far as to try making amends with his former targets such as Bip. Not like a couple or anything, just friends…good friends, even. Dunphy always kept an eye out for him, making sure other insecure guys didn’t taunt Bip the way he used to. They jokingly called each other “nerd” now, over things like their different tastes in music, but they’d trade back and forth regardless and try to have at least a little appreciation.

Bip held up the vial, giving it a little shake, what looked like grape Kool-Aid inside. “I need a working demonstration if I’m gonna win that science fair, and…don’t take this the wrong way, but…I’m actually pretty happy in my body. You’re going on all the time about ‘gains’ and ‘plateaus’ and always wanting more and more, so I thought…”

Dunphy nabbed the vial. “This will make me bigger? Done. I’m in. I’ll take it with me right now to the game, I’ll tear up the field. And yeah, impress Marcus, he’ll be in the bleachers.” He grabbed his gear bag and took off, faster than Bip could even advise him on a suitable dose…

—

Time was short, so Dunphy suited up and then downed the entire vial on his way out to the field. It might look like Kool-Aid but tasted more like cough syrup, ugh. “I hope this stuff works fast,” he thought as he and his teammates were doing their warm-ups on the field. He spotted his lion boyfriend Marcus in the bleachers, giving him the “see you” eyes-point, and getting back a discreet heart gesture. It filled him with warmth…wait…was that love, or the potion? Yes, he could feel an odd sort of energy rushing to all his muscles, like a hot drink on a frigid day.

Dunphy felt powerful, and he leaned in and roared. The crowd loved it, whistling and applauding, all eyes on him. His uniform did feel a little bit tight. He was bigger. Bip’s science project worked! The growth continued. He noticed it, even the crowd could notice it. His uniform was actually starting to feel constraining. This was incredible! And yet it still continued…seams were creaking, the pop-pop-pop of thread starting to give way…it was getting harder to breathe. This was getting awkward, but the home team crowd got even louder and more enthusiastic as their star player grew stronger and stronger.

(continued in pt 2)