The bell rang as Louis sat down at his desk. Other students came rushing in, hoping to not be counted as tardy. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness as the teacher made their way through the aisles, carrying a towering stack of packets. The paper slapped solidly against the laminated wood as they were passed out.
After they were all handed out, the zebra gave the signal to start. Louis opened his packet and began filling in bubbles. He hadn't studied. He hadn't needed to. The final was comprised of the easier material from throughout the school year. Most questions were taken straight from previous tests that he still remembered the answers to.
Three pages before midway, he began to feel a sensation that was growing increasingly familiar. Dagger-like teeth piercing, tearing apart his flesh. Flesh that was no longer there. He itched above the prosthetic leg, trying to drown out the phantom pains. His lips tightened into a line as his efforts proved futile. Crossing his leg onto the other allowed him to absentmindedly scratch without stopping the test.
By the time he finished, his skin was raw. His fingers twitched, hovering above his skin, trying to resist the urge to scratch. He impatiently waited for the rest of the room to finish. Most finished shortly after. All heads turned to a raven taking his time. The cumulative hatred propelled the student into finishing faster.
On the walk back to his room, his thoughts drifted to Legosi. He hadnt seen the wolf since that night. He had woken up with his leg stitched up and his father by his bedside; later learning he had learned that the dumb dog had dropped out of school without letting anyone know.
He opened his laptop, searching up recently convicted felons. Legosi's name appeared higher on the list. Doing a little more searching, he found an address to a shitty looking apartment complex called the Hidden Condo. By the looks of it, Legosi wouldn't be the only felon being housed there. It's prime location, right outside the Backalley Market, must have made it convenient for other unsavory characters.
"Yeah," He sighed. "He's definitely there."
He plugged the address into his phone and opened his door to leave. Turning, he went back and grabbed his gun. He couldn't be too careful. His time with the shishigumi made him wary of that area. Feeling more confident, he left the school. The air outside was cool and damp and ruffled his hair. Though it was chilly in his sweater and scarf, the sun made brief appearances through the dark clouds, keeping the city warm.
He swiped his card and waited at the platform. Distant honking took everyone's attention as the train announced it's arrival. Doors opened and herbivores spilled out and others entered, refilling the metal snake.
As the train rattled down the tracks, light began to fade. The setting sun blocked out by black clouds caused odd shadows over the buildings. Louis watched as they barreled into a wall of rain, instantly soaking the outside world. A curtain of water obscured the window's view, making the passing buildings wavy and undulated.
"Due to police activity, all trains on this line are no longer in service."
Louis' eyes closed and rolled to the back of his skull at the unwelcome announcement. Two more stops. He was way too far from the school to turn back. He groaned and followed the complaining mass of animals onto the wet platform and down the stairs. He broke away and headed down the street, briefly checking his phone to see how far he had to walk. Rain gradually soaked through his clothing. It clung to his body as he entered the apartment complex. Water dripped from his antlers and every other part of him. His fingers wiped streaks across the list of rooms and names. The elevator was out of order so he slopped up the stairs,. His prosthetic clicked angrily as he huffed along.
He pounded under the 504, flicking droplets on the faux gold plating. Something stirred inside moving to the door in a hurry. The door opened a crack to reveal a familiar slanted eye.
"Louis! What are you doing here?" The gray wolf stammered as Louis pushed past him and the door.
He stopped. He didn't have a reason to be here. He shouldn't have come.
"Did you see my prosthetic?" He asked, lifting his leg up to show Legosi. The wolf bent over, inspecting it closely. He manipulated it around in his hands. Louis could see Legosi's nose move to smell it.
"Enough!" Louis kicked his leg from Legosi's grip. "I'm going to need some spare clothes and a towel."
Legosi lead him over to a small dresser by a rolled up mattress. Louis opened the top drawer, which had some socks and underwear. The middle had two shirts inside.
"Where is the rest of your clothes?" Louis asked. Legosi pointed to the shorts and t-shirt he was wearing. "That's absolutely unacceptable! You need to get more clothes!"
He sighed and pulled out one of the shirts and took his off. Legosi tossed him a towel while looking away as Louis removed his pants, keeping his underwear on, which had stayed pretty much dry. He dried himself off best he could, and maneuvered his antlers through the neck hole. The shirt draped over him like a child in an adults t-shirt.
While Legosi hung his clothes up, Louis sat on the floor against the mattress roll and took off his prosthetic and rubbed the sore area. Irritation from the stitches and scratching left it radiating. Legosi sat down next to him, watching. He could feel the wolf's gaze on his would. Without a word he took Louis' leg in his own hands, inspecting it closer. His forwardness surprised Louis. He felt his face grow hot and a faint prickle at the back of his head. Last time they were like this, he had asked Legosi to eat his leg. His eyes didn't have the same fire as the last time, more of a curiosity now.
"Since I'm going to be here for a while, what do you have to eat, besides me?" Louis asked. Legosi's look to the mini fridge and silence gave him his answer. "I'll order us food."
Legosi nodded, knowing better than to refuse free food. Louis took out his phone and ordered noodles for them, putting a big tip for the delivery person. While they waited, Legosi rolled out the mattress for them to sit on. Louis sat at the top of the bed, cross-legged with his back against the wall. He held a pillow in his lap. Legosi sat at the other end holding his knees.
Legosi told him about his life since school. Louis didn't understand why he remained so positive about it. His life seemed worse now. He had new scars. Louis couldn't help but feel a twinge of fondness, listening to the wolf talk. There were very few people he could call his friend. He genuinely hoped Legosi was happy.
An unfamiliar number appeared on his phone as it buzzed.
"Hello?" Louis pointed at the door. "Yes, I'll be right down."
Legosi left and Louis felt free to observe the apartment. It was kind of depressing. The dresser and the bed were the only furniture. If you didn't count the microwave on the cardboard box, which he didn't. Everything smelled like Legosi. The pillow he was holding, the blanket under him, the shirt he was wearing. Louis took the shirts neck and put it over his nose.
A key clicked and and the doorknob turned. Louis pulled the shirt down, heart jumping, just as Legosi entered with a plastic bag with a smiley face on it.Legosi's fur was wet in areas. He put the pillow to the side and received his food.
They ate without talking. It wasn't silent though. Legosi noisily slurped his noodles. Louis watched them slap his nose. He licked it and continued eating. Louis had a hard time hiding his disgusted expressions.
Both of their phones went off at the same time. Legosi turned to his, noodles sticking out of his lips. Louis picked his up.
Emergency alert* Due to flash floods, all trains will be disabled until further notice.
He tossed his phone to the side and closed his eyes. Legosi got up to go check his.
"Don't you need the train to get back to school?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to stay here?"
"Yes, Legosi."
They finished their noodles and Legosi began to clean up, as if it would make a difference. He took the noodle containers and set them on top of the microwave to throw out later. Louis rolled off so Legosi could make the bed. He lifted the blanket, parachuting over the mattress. They both sat on top of the blanket, talking. Louis hadn't noticed that hours had passed until Legosi got underneath the covers. He glared at Legosi, strapped his prosthetic on, and got up to turn off the lights. He had to do evrything himself.
The light clicked off and he was left blind. Luckily it was a short trip back and nothing was on the floor to trip him. He removed his prosthetic for a final time and climbed under the blanket. Legosi was on the edge of the other side, trying to make himself smaller. The only pillow had been left to Louis. As he lay there, the moisture in his fur seeped the heat from his body. The blanket wasn't meant for a lot of warmth. Or more than one person for that matter. He could feel the tension in the fabric from both of them keeping to their own sides.
Louis inched inwards to get himself more blanket. He settled in a little more comfortably, able to wrap himself. The slightest of Legosi's heat touched his back, reminding him of how cold he was. A shiver wove through his body. He turned to face the heat source, seeing no harm in allowing his front to warm up. He scooted in a little more, body craving more heat. Another shiver went through him. Rubbing his legs together, he wished he had both feet to keep eachother warm.
He scooted in a little more, close enough to really feel the heat radiating off of the wolf. Why did Legosi need the blanket? Louis was the guest. As he lay there annoyed, Legosi's body shifted and turned. He became aware how ridiculously close they were. Should he move away? Or play it off as sleeping?
"Louis?" Legosi whispered.
Louis held his breath not knowing what to do.
"Are you cold?"
Louis' body screamed yes, stiff from holding back the urge to shiver. His bones aches from having the heat ripped from them. He swallowed his pride and scooted forward another time. His crossed arms touched Legosis folded arms. Louis felt his will falter and a new intense wave of shivers swept over him. His teeth would have been chattering if not for his clenched jaw.
Warm arms began to envelope and pull Louis in. His chest and arms pressed tightly against Legosi's chest. Louis put his cold nose into it. Legosi's breath was slow and deep. Louis' gradually slowed from the shallow tense ones he had been taking. Their legs intertwined, bringing them closer together. The warmth he was wrapped in smothered the shivers from his body.
It still didn't feel close enough. Louis pushed his nose up into where Legosi's jaw met hit neck. He relaxed more, getting caught up in the domestication of it all. Legosi pulled his head away, breaking some of their contact at the chest. Louis couldn't see anything but darkness in front of his face. He could still feel Legosi. He could feel the closeness of their lips. Legosi's breath. The heat being passed between them.
Louis closed his eyes again and pushed his lips into the wolf's. His heart fluttered upon feeling the sharp canines, not with fear, but excitement. He opened his mouth slightly, Legosi followed suit, pushing his tongue into Louis. He ran his tongue along the wolf's teeth. Louis pried his hands off of himself and threw them onto Legosi, still not feeling close enough. The wolf squeezed him in closer. Legosi's large heart punched against Louis' chest as it quickened. Their legs squeezed tighter together
Louis snapped out of it.
"Stop!" He pushed against Legosi, only managing to scoot himself away. He was pathetic for even humoring this stupid romance. Turning around on his side of the bed he scolded himself for being weak. Legosi shifted to turn around, giving the blanket its familiar cold tension.
His lips were raw and tingly. It felt nice. His heart rate slowed. The heat seeped out of his body again. Cold and alone. That felt more like him. He grabbed his pillow and hugged it. He told himself it was for warmth.
Time ground on like a slow glacier. He heard legosi take in a deep breath of air and exhale, on the verge of sleep. He didn't want to be the only one awake. He didn't want to be alone. Abandoning his pillow, he turned and scooted without stopping. His arms reached around the wall that was Legosi's backside. He pressed his legs against the wolf's to match them. The tail between them began to wag tiredly. Louis rolled his eyes and snuggled in closer, pressing his nose into Legosi's back. Legosi Shifted his legs so Louis had an easier time being the big spoon. The wolfs hand touched Louis' arm, acknowledging its existence. All he could smell was Legosi as he drifted into an easy sleep.
Soft gray light seeped in through the curtain cracks. Even though untrue, everything looked fresh and clean. Louis could smell the wet world outside, purifying his lungs. The blanket was below his elbows, but the chilled air didn't get to him. Legosi's head rest on his chest, arms wrapped tightly around louis, like a child with a toy. Their breathing, almost in sync. Legosi's longer breaths created an undulation with Louis'
His arms rested on the wolf in a noncommittal hug. Louis put his hand on Legosi's head softly rubbing behind his ears and running it through his hair. The wolf shifted letting out soft mumbles, still not waking. He closed his eyes, enjoying the ambiance. The small raindrops drummed in odd tempos on the window sill. The hiss from the old radiator. Sounds from the waking world outside, seperated from them. Louis let Legosi's weight sink him deeper into the pillow. All he could do was relax.
His fingers got caught in a knot. He looked down to see Legosi's eyes slowly blink open. The tired eyes looked up at him, trying to process the world. Louis gave a soft smile and continued to run his fingers through his hair. Legosi closed his eyes again, giving up on the waking world. They lay there in silence. Legosi's head rose and fell with his chest. A sudden shift in weight pushed the air from his lungs. Legosi's head nuzzled Louis',while he found his breath again. Stillness.
"I need to go to work." Legosi mumbled, his low tone resonated through Louis' chest.
He sighed, annoyed that the weight on his chest would ruin the moment, and at himself for wanting it to last. Both of them lay there, trying to summon the motivation to move. Legosi was the first. Louis' arms slid off of the wolf's back as he rose. Both of them stretched. Legosi looked down from above the deer. From there they held their soft eye contact until Legosi got up to stretch more. The cold air touched Louis again.
He rolled from the bed and took off the shirt and tossed it onto the bed. He grabbed his clothing and put them on. His pants hadn't fully dried yet, making them stiff. He chuckled at the sight of Legosi in his work uniform. The idea of the wolf working in a kitchen was laughable. He wrapped his scarf around himself, the moisture left it a little musty, and stepped outside the door. Legosi locked the door and they made their way down the stairs.
The crisp air greeted them. The pair made their way to the train station. Louis had to increase his speed to keep up with Legosi, even though he was certain Legosi was slowing down for him as well. The wolf walked hunched over as if to make himself smaller, or maybe to catch anything that Louis might have to say. They walked to the train station in silence. Swiped their cards in silence. Looked at each other before splitting off in silence.
"You have my number." Louis said, knowing Legosi would hear.
He walked up onto his platform, Legosi kept in time on his side. Stopping when Louis stopped. The wolf's train rumbled closer. They made eye contact and the wolf made an awkward wave, tail wagging. Louis smiled at him before he disappeared behind the train. He watched it leave and disappear around the bend. His own came, shortly after. He got on. He watched the city pass around him, his nostalgic smile never left his lips.
