A/N: A very nice commentor asked if I took fic requests and though you are more than welcome to send me ideas, there is no guarantee I will write them. But hey if I do like it, I just might ^^

Yarthayaj'knaushtavdhladleklwa asked if I could write a scenario where Phineas beats up Isabella's stalker. I love a good damsel in distress scene as much as the next fangirl, but... the prompt really doesn't fit with my personification of the characters and how the show portrays them. So I warped the outcome a bit ^_^ It was also a nice chance to write out my thoughts concerning their college life, so most of this chapter is fun headcanon fluff lol

Defense

Thursday evening found Phineas and Isabella lounging in their studio apartment. Their second college semester was in full swing and it was actually refreshing for the pair to be back into a routine after winter break. There was nothing quite like going home for the holidays… to remind them why they chose a school more than a few hours away.

Their first semester had been spent in the dorms and a sorority. But Phineas had scared away three roommates with his inventions taking over the small shared space and Isabella worried her I.Q. was in danger around that much hairspray and gossip. They didn't think they would last another semester living like that. The solution was obvious to them, of course.

When the semester was almost finished, Phineas and Isabella approached their parents with the idea of looking into the apartment complexes just off the campus. A place they could share. Together. What followed were several long and involved discussions. A term paper about how it would actually save money because college living plans were a rip off and a joke. Multiple reminders that they were star students with a number of awards and scholarships. A thriving bank account thanks to the paid summer internship at STARK INDUSTRIES that Phineas and Ferb had taken. And the inevitable whining and complaining that they had more than proven how responsible and devoted they were in their four year long relationship.

After finally getting their parents to co-sign a lease, the college freshmen found what they now lovingly referred to as their 'nook'. The apartment was indeed shoe-box level, but with a few pointers from Ferb, a master at maximizing space; it had become a wonderfully cozy home. And even they were impressed with themselves when they found how easy it was to live together. After their scare of living with people on campus, there had been the initial worry that they wouldn't be compatible roommates which would in turn damage their relationship. But they were naturally tidy people who knew one another in and out. Both liked to cook. Both were morning people. Phineas' solar panels and Isabella's window sill herb garden on the itty bitty balcony made the space 'green' and saved on bills. The semester was only in its third week and already Phineas and Isabella felt less stressed and like real, budding adults.

Phineas was currently sprawled out on his back on the bed, Isabella draped across his lap as she typed away on the laptop he built for her. Her Chihuahua was curled up on the backs of her legs in the dip her knees made. She was writing a paper and he was taking a mental break from his own homework. He liked to drink in moments like this. The sound of her typing and Pinky's little snores. The small drizzle outside tapping against the sliding glass patio door. The perfect tranquility and how natural it all felt.

He loved their little apartment. How Isabella liked having lots of plants to make the air smell nice and less stuffy. How she didn't mind that he wanted to incorporate his inventions into every aspect of their living quarters. How she would slip into speaking Spanish when talking to her father on the phone. When she would listen to him talk about missing Ferb while his brother was taking a year abroad in England. They balanced each other so well and even though they had been dating all through high school, he felt like he was falling in love all over again now that they lived together.

Just thinking about how happy he was made him stare at her, his hand reaching over to move some of her raven hair aside so he could see how her face scrunched up when she wrote. She reflexively leaned into his touch without taking her eyes off the screen. But it wasn't enough for Phineas. He wanted her attention on him.

"IIIIIIzzie."

She didn't respond, her lips moving as she silently proof read the last paragraph she wrote.

"IIIIIIIIIIIIzzie…"

"Whaaaaaaat," she mocked his sing-songy tone, still not looking over at him as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"I'm trying to distraaaaact you."

"I can seeee that."

"Then be distraaaaacted."

"Phineas," she finally broke her constant stare at the laptop to look at him. But any straight face she had been holding was instantly broken at the sight of his puppy dog eyes and pouted lower lip. She snorted a laugh. "You're pathetic."

"Come over here and be pathetic with me," he cooed sitting up to wrap his arms around her. Their movement made Pinky spring up from his spot, jumping off his owner in favor of his frilly pink dog bed on the floor. He rolled his eyes at their antics as he turned circles and settled down with his back to them.

Isabella giggled as she was wrapped up in Phineas' embrace; the sleeves of his over sized rusted orange hoodie made her feel like he was covering her in a blanket. She hummed contently as he pecked at her cheek with multiple butterfly kisses. "Mmm… as nice as this is, I really gotta finish this paper babe."

"Aww…" he pouted, claiming one long kiss on her lips before he relented. "Okay," he nuzzled her, "I'll make a snack."

Isabella beamed, rewarding his understanding with a kiss to his pointed nose. "Oreos and peanut butter?"

"If it's what my lady wants," he pushed himself off the bed, walking over to their little kitchenette.

"Thaaank you, Crumbcake!" she sat cross legged in the center of the bed, going back to her typing.

"Oh baby, don't break out the pet names and expect me to contain myself," Phineas snickered as he rummaged around the cabinets. "So why the rush on the paper? Tomorrow's Friday. What kind of sick sadistic professor do you have that makes a paper due before the weekend?"

"It's not due tomorrow, I just want to turn it in early."

"Said no college student ever," Phineas laughed as he started to spread creamy peanut butter on the tops of a few Oreos.

"Har har," she smirked over her shoulder at him. "Actually I'm just trying to avoid the TA. Tomorrow's a lab day so if I finished the paper tonight and hand it in, I don't have to spend two hours in the same room with him."

"Why? What's his problem?" Phineas raised a brow. It wasn't often his girlfriend didn't get along with someone. Or at least wasn't able to tolerate them. Buford was one of their best friends after all.

"I dunno," she shrugged, "He's like always leaning over my computer chair. And showing me how to use a program I already know how to use, even when I tell him it's cool, I got this. And just constantly hovering around me. He's kind of a creep."

Isbaella's words made Phineas' hand slip, buttering his thumb instead of the cookie. "He does what now?" he looked over at her, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"He's just generally annoying."

"Is he 'generally annoying' to everyone, or just you?" Phineas asked, using a napkin to clean his hand, all the while not looking away from Isabella.

Isabella sighed and leaned back on her hands, lazily looking over at her boyfriend. "Should I have not said something, Phineas?"

"More like you should have said something sooner!" Phineas tossed the butter knife in the sink. It was incredibly obvious to him what this stranger's motivations were. "Have you told this jerk to back off?"

Isabella smirked, watching Phineas' pale skin redden a bit, making his freckles stand out. "Awww… you are adorable in that shade of jealousy."

"I am not jealous," he huffed, "I don't have to be jealous. I'm… concerned."

Isabella's grin only widened. She had never seen her boyfriend so flustered. At least not at the news that someone else might be vying for her attention. It was kind of a nice twist considering how a good majority of her childhood had been spent chasing him. But he was right; he had never had a reason to be jealous. Everyone that knew them knew they were a couple. But this was college. And there were lots of people that didn't know them. "Relax Phineas, he's harmless. And I can't help but notice how there is no cookie in my hand right now."

Phineas rolled his eyes at her outstretched hand, but picked up the plate of snacks and walked back over to the bed, sitting on the edge of it beside her. "But if he's bothering you, you'd tell me. Right?"

"My Knight in Titanium Alloy Armor would be the first to know if I needed rescuing," she teased, nuzzling her nose to his as she plucked a cookie off the plate. "I've got The Beak's number, remember?"

For a moment, Phineas seemed pacified, accepting her nuzzles and taking a cookie for himself. She returned to her paper and he was quiet for a few minutes as they ate their snack. But it was soon very obvious to Isabella that Phineas was over thinking the topic.

"Now when you say he hovers-"

"Oh for Pete's sake!" she laughed, closing her laptop. "Phineas. It's not that big of a deal. If he made me that uncomfortable, I would say something," she reassured, crawling over to him to slide her arms around his shoulders from behind.

"Maybe I should walk you to class…"

Isabella rolled her eyes with a smirk, "What? Show him I'm claimed territory?"

Phineas frowned, but leaned back into her embrace. "I didn't mean it like that."

"I know you didn't," she kissed his cheek. "I'm just teasing. I know you just want to defend my honor."

He chuckled, resting his hand on her thigh. "Well… you are very honorable." He sighed, relaxing a bit more. "Sorry about that."

"About what?" she brushed her cheek against his. "About being worried about me? Or being jealous? I think it's sweet. You've got nothing to worry about though," she purred. "His head is way too round for my liking."

"You brat," Phineas snickered turning around to attack her sides with tickles. She shrieked in glee, releasing her hold on him in favor of darting over the bed, making him lunge for her. It quickly turned into a game of chase around their tiny apartment. A game played a few times a week at least and that often paralleled a game of tonsil hockey. But before that night's game could go into overtime, both of them remembered they had homework to finish. Isabella returned to her laptop while Phineas pulled down his own work station he had built into the wall much like a hideaway bed. A tap at the sliding glass door to the balcony stopped Phineas before he sat down.

Pinky reacted first, but not in the way any normal dog would. Instead of barking and alerting the occupants of the room that there was a sound they should know about, the Chihuahua sat up in his bed and stretched before walking over to the door. He jumped up onto one of the breakfast bar stools so he could unlock the latch, letting the visitor slide it open. Perry the Platypus chattered a thank you up at his friend as he stepped inside, slipping off his fedora and tucking it away for the night. The monotreme dropped to all four and shook off the drizzle from his water resistant fur.

"Hey pal, you were out late tonight," Phineas commented, going to the kitchen to open a can of tuna for his pet and dump it into his food dish. "Extra dose of crime and villainy back in Danville?"

Perry squawked and cracked his back. It had indeed been a long night and he couldn't help but think he was getting too old for all this daring do. Ever since Phineas and Ferb had once again found out his identity when they were pre-teens, they helped keep Perry in top fighting condition, developing several serums that kept their pet feeling young and fit as well as prolonging his life. By all accounts he should be as active as a foot stool at his age. Or dead.

It was one of the many reasons the O.W.C.A had allowed them to keep their memories. Especially after Carl took over a good majority of the organization when Major Monogram had retired. Letting Phineas and Ferb help him develop technology that pushed the O.W.C.A into a new era, the boys were a valued resource. And valued resources were not in danger of losing their beloved platypus just because they knew he was a secret agent.

But Perry showed few signs of slowing down. Doofenschmirtz Evil Incorporated was still pumping out inators every now and then, and Perry couldn't see himself completely giving up the thrill of the fight just yet. Even if he had hoped that moving out of the Tri-State Area with Phineas would help curb it slightly. One part of him didn't want to admit he was old, while the other longed for the lap of luxury as a house pet. Regardless, he still took regular jet packed trips back to Danville.

Pinky had long since retired from the field and stuck to desk work at the O.W.C.A. Eight years was past the prime for canine agents and he'd developed arthritis. During high school, Isabella had stumbled upon one of the back yard entrances and her boyfriend and his brother working in Perry's lair. Which lead to her finding out Pinky was an O.W.C.A agent as well. Isabella too had been allowed to keep her memories, though it had taken Phineas threatening Carl with a monkey wrench if he even thought of tampering with his girlfriend's brain.

But even though both animal agents found themselves still active in the organization, whatever the task, they would readily admit these days they preferred their pet role. It had been awkward at first when their owners found out about their double lives. The hardest part for Perry to adapt to was Phineas and Ferb not initially knowing how to treat him. For the first few weeks and when they weren't around other family members, they tried to act as if he were just another human. And it took some time before Perry admitted he missed being a pet. He missed being scooped up and cuddled and carried around the house. He missed belly rubs and curling up beside his owners at night. He even missed Phineas' incessant baby talk and asking him 'whosa good boy?!'

He was. He was a good boy, damnit. And Perry wasn't going to lose that treasured part of his life. So he made it a rule that the fedora stayed off when he wasn't on duty. And after a few times of rubbing up against their ankles and returning to his post on their beds, Phineas and Ferb took the hint. Though both enjoyed working on gadgets and playing the odd game of chess with their platypus, they were all too happy to balance it out with 'pet time' and find a comfortable middle ground that pleased both parties.

Which was currently the case as Perry ran the length of his body against Phineas' pant leg, arching his back up into the boy's hand as he was stroked. He dove into his meal when Phineas set the dish down, purring contently as his owner pet him while he ate. He glanced to the side as Pinky sat beside Phineas as well, tail wagging as he cast his impossibly large eyes up at the red head and then over at the jar of peanut butter that had been left out. Phineas chuckled, "Alright boy, but just a spoonful."

Perry watched his owner scoop a little bit of the treat out into Pinky's dish that was set beside his own. He hadn't initially thought he'd like living with another pet, let alone another agent. He wasn't very good at sharing his owners. But then again, neither was Pinky. True to his breed, the dog was very possessive of Isabella. Working together was one thing. But when they were home? What was the protocol? At first, they had an unspoken agreement that each other's owners were off limits. But the longer they spent time with one another, the more a mutual respect came about. Now it wasn't uncommon to see Pinky curled up on Phineas' sneakers as he worked at his computer. Or Perry tucked up against the small of Isabella's back when she napped between classes. Living together hadn't turned out to be such a difficult thing after all. Especially on their days off when they could sit and watch soap operas together or play cards. It was nice to have another intelligent animal around who also knew the stress of life as a secret agent.

Perry finished his meal and took a moment to groom his damp fur, preening the base of his tail with the edge of his bill. With Phineas' attention on Pinky, the platypus sought out the free lap over on the bed. He bounded up onto the mattress, slinking under Isabella's arm and into the perfect cradle her crossed legs made. He purred as her manicured nails ran through his fur.

"Maybe Pinky could hide in your bag and growl at the TA whenever he gets too close until he gets the hint," Phineas suggested, leaning against the counter and watching the dog continually smack his jaws together in response to a mouth full of peanut butter.

"Riding in purses is so beneath my dog," Isabella smirked, still typing away.

"Then Perry can do it."

The platypus opened one eye and looked over at his owner. He was unsure the context of this conversation, but he wanted it made clear that he was not an accessory.

Isabella laughed. "What's Perry gonna do?"

Phineas shrugged with a smirk. "He's poisonous you know…"

Isabella rolled her eyes, but was still smiling as she reached down to cuddle the monotreme. "Perry, tell Phineas he's over reacting."

"Grrkrrgrrkrr…"

"See? He agrees with me."

"You always take her side," Phineas joked before sitting down at his own computer to work as well. He put on some music and the two of them focused on their tasks for a few hours. Isabella finally leaned back and stretched, closing her laptop.

"Finish?" her boyfriend yawned, putting his tablet pen down and saving the blueprints he'd been working on.

"Just about. I want one of my classmates to give me some feedback on it, but at least I shouldn't have to stay the whole class period," she yawned as well, his yawn being contagious.

"Well, text me when you're getting out of class, I'll come meet you and we'll grab some food," he insisted, closing up his work station. Isabella nodded in agreement before they went about their normal nightly rituals. She turned off the lights, flopping onto her side and hugging her pillow, smiling when she felt him slide into the bed behind her. Phineas curled his arm around her center and nestled himself against the dip between her shoulder and neck, breathing in her scent as they relaxed. With a Chihuahua lounging on the pillow above their heads and a platypus snuggled up against the back of his leg, it was another perfect moment Phineas wanted to enjoying before he fell asleep.

-

Perhaps she should have put the platypus in her bag that morning.

Isabella sighed as she shrugged herself deeper into the collar of her cardigan, trying to look invisible as the teacher's assistant leaned over her to reach her keyboard. "I can uh… edit the paragraph myself, Ryan."

"Well here, let me at least show you how the formatting should look," he smirked, setting his hand on the computer mouse on top of hers.

That was enough for Isabella. She wasn't a confrontational person, but the conversation with Phineas the night before made her realize the unwanted attention probably wasn't going to end unless she said something. "I can do it myself," she said sternly and pulled her hand away from his and sat up straight to force his body away from her space. "I don't need your help."

Her words and movement were enough to garnish a reaction from the boy this time. "Whoa," Ryan scoffed, but kept his smirk as he leaned against the desk. "Cool it, Isabella. I'm just trying to help you."

"No, you're really not," she stayed firm, saving her computer file onto her flash drive. "You've had nothing constructive to say about my paper, you've just been nitpicking punctuation for the last twenty minutes."

"I know what the professor is look-

"Ryan…" she made direct eye contact with him. "You've been hanging all over me for a week now. I'm not stupid. And my general dismissive attitude to your blatant come ons is apparently not clear enough to tell you that I'm not interested. So I'm just going to say it. I'm not interested."

Ryan raised an eyebrow at her, still leaning against the desk as he folded his arms. He wasn't a bad looking individual. Someone who was a little more than used to getting things his way and definitely not used to his advances being unwanted. "Well you're not really giving me a fair chance."

Isabella half laughed as she packed her stuff into her bag. "I'm not really required to give you a fair chance if I'm not interested."

Trying to save face, Ryan rolled his shoulders and stood up straighter. "Well let me take you to dinner. Change your mind about me."

"No thank you," she slung her bag onto her shoulder as she got up from her seat. By this time, a few other students in the lab were looking over at the unfolding drama.

Ryan glanced briefly at the other sets of eyes watching him flounder. He quickly switched gears. Now his confidence and opinion of himself meant much more than any attraction he had felt towards Isabella. "Sheesh. You don't have to be a bitch about it," he chuckled, looking to the rest of the class as if they were to back him up against her negative reaction.

Isabella froze mid step towards the door, slowly turning to glare at the boy who had insulted her. She tensed, fists balling up. She opened her mouth, intent on laying into Ryan when her name was called from the doorway.

"Izzie?"

All eyes turned to the door, a tall red head in a rust colored hoodie walking into the room. Phineas' smile at seeing his girlfriend slowly melted when he picked up on the tense atmosphere in the room. One look at the boy Isabella's venomous glare was directed at and he felt his own eyes narrow. "Is that the guy?"

Isabella's look softened as she turned to Phineas, a little surprised as his demeanor warped right in front of her. She had seen him mad before, plenty of times. Phineas wasn't incapable of anger. But she hadn't ever seen him get so… defensive. She was reminded of a woodland animal, a small creature that would puff itself up to make itself look larger and more intimidating than it really was. Which did not put her at ease. Ryan had an athlete's build. Phineas had the build of…well… Phineas.

"Don't worry about it. Let's go," she said softly, reaching to take his arm.

"Well you didn't tell me you were already dating someone," Ryan put his hands on his hips, feeling like her brush off of him was slightly more justified simply because she was already spoken for by another.

But that only made Phineas' seethe more, hackles raised as he took a step towards Ryan and away from Isabella's grip. "Izzie, if this cretin is bothering you…"

"The hell did you just call me?"

"You heard me…"

"Phineas!"

"No, I'm actually not sure what you just called me. What does that mean? I mean I know it's not good given the context, but I've never heard that word before."

Isabella rolled her eyes and tugged on Phineas' arm, wanting to get away from the escalating situation. But her boyfriend was having none of it, gently shrugging out of her grip to make his way over to Ryan. "If I hear again you've been making her uncomfortable…"

Ryan snickered at the engineering student before him, a gangly thing that was all limbs. There was really nothing to Phineas to back up his threat. "Okay bud, I get it. Your bitch is off limits."

The room gasped as the first punch was thrown, Phineas' knuckles barely brushing against Ryan's chin. The TA's reflexes were much faster as he stepped back out of the way. Before the red head could recover from his awkward move, Ryan caught the sleeve of his hoodie, pulling back and sending his own punch directly into Phineas' face.

Phineas stumbled back, but Ryan's hand grabbed the front of his hoodie, pulling him back for another hit. A hit that never came. His world was a bit blurry, but Phineas watched as Isabella's elbow came down hard on the bend in Ryan's arm, making him release his hold on her boyfriend. A quick upper cut from the heel of her palm broke Ryan's nose. When he went to grasp at his bleeding face her knee connected with his gut, sending him doubling over with pain radiating from three sections of his body.

Phineas stepped back, one hand over his quickly blackening eye as he watched Ryan crumble to the floor and Isabella calmly pick up her bag. The rest of the class was mostly speechless, a few colorful words whispered in shock at what they had just witnessed, one of the girls muttering a 'right on!'

Isabella said nothing as she gently took Phineas' arm again and led him out of the computer lab as he kept glancing back at the moaning Ryan on the floor. The red head couldn't say he was surprised by the outcome. His girlfriend had more than several different kinds of self defense and hand to hand combat patches from her days as a Fireside Girl. Talents she had apparently been keeping sharp after all those years. He would definitely remember that.

"I-I didn't handle that correctly, did I?" Phineas winced as Isabella sat him down on a bench once they reached the quad, her hands at his cheek as she looked over his swollen eye.

"I think I have a 'You Tried' sticker somewhere in my scrap booking collection," she smiled as her thumb stroked his cheek.

"Is this a case of 'It's the thought that counts'?" he murmured, gritting his teeth in embarrassment.

"Yes. Yes it is," she kissed his good cheek. "Let's go get you some ice, baby."