oops this one's really short sorry
Bad Cop felt a lot calmer than he thought he would, despite the horrible knot of anxiety in his stomach. He folded his arms over the top of the chair. "I'd like to start off by saying I appreciate you not telling Emmet about my earlier… episode," he said.
Benny nodded dumbly.
"I also appreciate the fact that you recognized I might not be willing to do this," Bad Cop continued.
Benny nodded again, apprehension written all over his face.
"Regarding Business," Bad Cop said, and Benny flinched a little, "I believe I can fight my own battles."
Benny mumbled something.
"Speak up," Bad Cop told him.
Benny cleared his throat and repeated, "But you don't have to fight them alone."
The knot in his stomach twisted violently, and Bad Cop tried to not let it show on his face. "You don't need to do this," he said.
Benny clenched his fists at his sides and stubbornly met Bad Cop's eyes. "I want to."
Bad Cop had to look away. "I still don't understand," he said.
"Then at least accept it," Benny replied.
Bad Cop looked back at him. The spaceman's face was set in determination.
"I know you're afraid," Benny said. "And you're hurting. Becoming Chief of Police again would be really hard. You'd be right in the public eye, and coordinating people who might not entirely trust you. But you…" Benny looked down at his hands and then up again. "You're tough as nails, dude. I think you like a good challenge, and this'd be your toughest challenge yet. And I think you can do it."
Bad Cop eyed Benny, floating a couple inches off the floor in his ridiculous spaceship pajamas, with his boyish face and uncontrollable hair. "You're a deep well, Ben," Bad Cop said.
Benny grinned at that.
The knot hardened into a rock, solidified with resolve. "Alright," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's give this a shot."
Benny looked about to cheer, but Bad Cop cut him off. "Under one condition," he said.
Benny froze, suddenly on edge.
Bad Cop leveled a finger at him. "You're going to be my deputy."