Important author's note: This chapter features a character who goes by the name of Benny and happens to be a "monster-sized, reefer-addicted, Buddhist goldfish." He is not my creation, nor is he a character of the show. He is the creation of the wickedly cool j. starr, who has been kind enough to let me borrow him for the sake of this story. (Once you all are done reading this, you should go read her fic Beautiful Music. C'est tres bien! (If my brothers highschool French is correct.)

Part Five: Benny's Blessings

Leo let the pair in after they spent a good twenty minutes pounding on and swearing at his poor, unsuspecting front door and greeted them with a, "Oh, hey man. And other man. What can I do for you?"

Hyde rubbed Kelso's shoulder affectionately. "We're here to see Benny," he said, "and ask for his blessings and advice."

Leo smiled widely. "I'll go let him know you're here, man."

Kelso's brow was creasing. "Just who is Benny, anyway?" he asked, before Hyde put one finger up to his lips and made a 'shh' sound.

"You'll see soon enough."

They made their way into the living room, where Leo was seated cross-legged on the floor in front of a plastic wading pool, smoking a joint. Kelso looked around, confused. "Um... Where's this Benny guy?" he asked.

"Right there," Hyde said, gesturing towards the pool.

"Gah!"

Hyde settled down in a kneeling position on the floor, taking his sunglasses off and placing them next to them. He breathed in deeply, inhaling the pear-like scent drifting towards him from one of the candles. He looked up at Kelso and patted the spot of floor next to him.

Kelso hesitantly obliged, eyeing the pool suspiciously. "Why didn't you tell me Benny was a fish?" he asked incredulously.

"He's not just any fish," Hyde responded smartly. "He happens to be a Buddhist who is very in touch with emotions and the natural order of things."

"Yeah, man," Leo agreed. "He really does have a lot of insight."

"Okay..." Kelso knelt down next to Hyde, staring into the pool and watching Benny, all two slippery feet of Benny, swim curiously up to the surface as though he were looking at him. Kelso's eyes widened. Maybe this fish really did have insight...

"See?" Hyde said, threading their fingers together. "He just said 'hello.'"

"Um... Hi?" Kelso managed back.

Leo passed the joint to them and Hyde took a deep hit, shotgunning it to Kelso. "Let's ask Benny for his blessings," he murmured, burying his face into Kelso's neck and closing his eyes.

They sat there and smoked, leaning against each other, and watching ripples form as Leo tossed Cheerios in the water for Benny. They dipped their fingers in that water, joining hands and murmuring things that made no sense and perfect sense all the same. Leo gave a big, cryptic speech about what Benny foresaw in their future and suggested that they get matching bongs as a symbol of their unity before taking both of their ring fingers and wrapping a piece of red ribbon that no one was really sure where it had come from around their ring fingers. Tying them together, he said, "This symbolizes life, man, and your connection. Benny says you've got a good future, filled with happiness and lots of weed." For Leo, those were profound words.

It was nearly midnight when they left Leo's place, just starting to come down from their high.

"Hey, um, Hyde?" Kelso asked, pausing before he got into the car.

"Yeah, Kelso?"

"Did we just get married or something?"

Hyde slid the key in the ignition, choosing to save his answer for that question for another time. "Let's go to the bar," he said. "Maybe Danny will be there."

"Danny? Is he another weed-loving, telepathic goldfish?"

Hyde chuckled. "Nah," he replied. "He's my beer-guzzling, human pool buddy. C'mon, I owe him a game."

I had originally planned on making this story a three-parter, but it just wasn't working, so I combined the content and decided to leave it at being a two-parter. I might add something more to it in the future but after this I have big plans for a supernatural fic for T7S.