Chapter 29 - Heart (End of the Hell Months)

The knock was gentle, soft. Louis had no idea that it wasn't his butler that made the noise. He looked up from his book. "Yes?"

Legosi's heart was hammering in his chest, sweat forming on his forehead. His voice...That's really his voice...Louis-senpai…

"Yes?" Louis asked again, clearly annoyed.

Legosi's mouth was dry. He couldn't speak. He reached his hand down slowly, twisting the knob, ears perking when he realized it was unlocked. His heartbeat grew quicker.

The door slowly opened, and Legosi peeked out from behind it. He was really there, lying on his bed, reading a book…

Louis.

The deer was already in a state of shock. His heart stopped. He couldn't think. The face of an 18 year old boy was back. That's all he was. His ears went back. He just...stared.

Legosi stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. He took a few tentative steps forward, his tail wagging wildly being the only indication that he was happy beyond belief. He wore a goofy smile as he waved a hand awkwardly.

"Hey, Louis-senpai." He wanted to do more. God, he wanted to. But he didn't know how Louis was feeling, what he had been through all these months. He didn't want to overwhelm him.

Louis' bottom half was under the covers. He just sat there with his book open, staring. He couldn't move at all. He was like a deer in headlights. There was no way this was actually happening. It...It had to be another cruel dream.

The wolf looked around the room a bit, trying to find out how Louis might have been living. The room was barren, to say the least. There didn't seem to be any technology whatsoever. He looked back at the deer.

Louis' face had completely changed. There were tears flooding his eye and he was very emotional. He didn't want to move because he'd knew he'd start sobbing the moment he did.

Legosi continued toward the bed, sitting down gently on it beside Louis' legs, placing a hand on one of them over the covers. He smiled at him, tears of his own forming due to seeing the deer's. "H-hi..." It was a whisper.

"H...h..." Louis couldn't take it anymore. The tears began to flow anyway. He looked down as he sniffled. Some tears fell onto Legosi's hand.

The canine leaned forward, bringing his hand to hold the side of Louis's face, rubbing his cheek with his thumb. "Sorry I took so long…"

Louis looked up. "I...it's okay..." He sniffed again.

"So...how are you doing?" He knew the answer, but he felt like he should ask anyway. His tail continued to wag. He wanted so badly to get under those covers and hold him close.

Louis was just quivering. He couldn't form words. Why was he so emotional...? He was breaking down in front of Legosi like this. It wasn't like him.

Legosi moved closer, then wrapped his arms around Louis, slowly. His body was once again in his arms, like it had been months ago...The familiar feeling, Louis' scent, this moment...

Louis let him hug him. He didn't have the strength to even hug him back. He cried into his chest.

Legosi nestled his snout beneath Louis', breathing in his scent deeply. He held him closer, closer, closer. He tried his hardest not to squeeze. He felt tears run down his own face. "I missed you a lot..."

Louis finally slowly lifted his arms up and held him. Legosi was here to save him for the second time. He couldn't comprehend it completely.

They stayed like that, just enjoying the contact of one another. They were the only ones in the world at that moment.

Louis eventually stopped crying. He looked up at Legosi in the eyes. "I missed you too…"

Legosi smiled. He sniffed. "Oh, here, uh..." He was an awkward mess, like usual. He pulled away from the hug, getting off the bed to take his shoes and sweatshirt off. He walked around to the other side of the bed, sitting close next to Louis, tail wagging throughout the whole thing, making his movements a bit hard. He placed his hand on Louis' shoulder.

The deer blinked and looked at him.

Legosi's expression turned more serious. "I've been texting you, but...I'm guessing you haven't gotten any of the messages..."

"Oguma took my phone..." Louis looked to the side.

Legosi dipped his head forward, trying to follow Louis' big eye. "Louis-senpai, tell me what's been happening...Are you okay?"

"Not really...I've been locked up here for months ever since my father found out I don't want to be a Beastar..." he sniffed.

"Ah..." So he did tell him. Legosi moved his hand from the closer shoulder to the farther one, his arm wrapped around his small body. He pulled him gently closer. "Well, I'm here now." His voice was a low baritone. "I actually came this morning and asked to see you, but they said you were busy. I guess they didn't tell you I was there…"

Louis frowned. "I wish you could have come here and seen me with two eyes..." He didn't know why he said it, but he meant it.

Legosi chuckled sadly, shaking his head. "Senpai, I don't care whether you have two eyes, one eye, or seven. It's just...you!" He was having a hard time not confessing his love. He didn't want to spring it at this time. Louis was way too sensitive. He pulled him in, being mindful of the antlers.

Louis hugged him. He sniffed again. He saved me again…

"Um, do you want to hear about what's been happening at Cherryton, or would that stress you out?" Legosi used his free hand to grab one of Louis', stroking the fur on it with his thumb.

The herbivore nodded. "Please…"

Legosi told him everything that happened after his departure. How he befriended Haru, the changes to the drama club, the new member Pina. He even told him about how Juno kissed him, leaving out his outburst, of course. He just told him that he turned her down gently afterward. It was kind of funny, thinking back on it. It didn't upset him as much now because Louis was in his arms right now. His voice was so deep and soothing.

Louis felt weird about Juno kissing him. It was a...tugging feeling. Like a tugging disappointment. "I missed that place..." So he isn't dating anyone…

"...What do we do now?" Legosi once again thought about the future. He had him now, but then what? Oguma seemed to be too powerful of a presence.

"I have a plan," Louis said. "I've had a plan."

"Oh? That's the senpai I know and love!" Did that count as a confession…?

Louis' heart skipped a beat. Love...He had never truly felt it before. He looked at Legosi's smile. He had never truly felt it before now. It was certain.

"So, what's the plan?" Legosi tilted his head.

"Well...the first part of the plan involves you hiding here overnight. Can you do that? The bed is kind of small but we can share it and you can hide in the closet if anyone tries to come in, besides Shogi."

"Was that the butler who told you goodnight? The sheep?"

Louis nodded. "We're friends and he knows all about you."

Legosi blushed. Louis-senpai...talked about me…? Then he gave him a big grin.

The deer blushed as well. Fuck...I missed him even more than I thought…

"...Well, I could get the whole bed if I just plug you into the wall, Robot Louis-senpai!" Please just take that as a joke, I don't want the bed to myself…

Louis laughed, gently. "I guess that's true..."

"But, uh, we can share it. We've done it before, and I'm definitely not thinking I'm gonna eat you this time, as long as you don't think so either." Legosi realized something just then, sniffing himself. "Although, I did work up quite a sweat getting in here, so I might smell..."

Louis didn't care. He just wanted to be there with him. "It doesn't matter. Legosi-kun..."

Legosi still couldn't believe it. All those months away, and now he was with him again. He didn't know what to do with himself.

He looked around. "So...this is your room?" It was a dumb question, but he just wanted to hear Louis talk more.

"No. It's supposed to be, but I don't feel that way." There was a pause. "The dorm at Cherryton is my home. This isn't home...It feels more like a prison than a real prison probably does...It reminds me of being back in those cells...Locked up all day..." He looked away. Bad memories.

Legosi pulled him closer. Every time he looked away, he did. "Well, we'll be out of here before we know it, right?" He wiped his nose. "Maybe I'll be able to show you my room at Cherryton sometime."

"I don't go there anymore...I guess I'm homeless, if we're being honest..."

"We'll find something. I know it."

"I don't think I want to go anywhere if I can't see you..." Louis mumbled. "I never realized just how much you meant to me. You've saved me twice now and...And I haven't done anything for you..."

"Well..." Legosi moved his body down more, resting his head on Louis' chest slightly. He didn't even think anything of the contact, it just felt so natural at that moment. "You gave a big scary carnivore like me a chance to know you. That's a pretty big deal for me. And you're still my friend after I almost tried to eat you...that's pretty impressive. And also...who's saying you won't be able to see me still?"

"I meant daily..." Louis pouted. He reached his hand up and started stroking his head. This feels right...

His affectionate words came out easier because of how happy he was. Months apart...Everything he wanted to say but could never say...Legosi even texted him...No one else probably did that. He looked down at the wolf's large head on his chest. Am I really in love with a male wolf...?

"I'll see you every day, senpai." Legosi just said what he wanted. He wasn't sure when a life like that would be possible. He just wanted it. And so did Louis. Louis really cared about him and wanted to be with him.

The deer hugged him again. He almost kissed his head, but decided against it. "I want to go home together."

"So, what's the plan tomorrow, then?" Legosi nuzzled into his chest, voice muffled by it.

"You're going to go to the black market and get a gun for me." He said. "I know I said not to go back...But...I know someone there who will give it to you for free." Then the deer stopped stroking. "No...This is wrong. I shouldn't be asking something like this of you. You saw horrible things there...I...I'm sorry..." He pulled his hand back and kind of scooted down, turning on his side. For a moment there he sounded like his old self…

There was silence, the two boys now separated from each other. Legosi cleared his throat. "If it gets you out of here, I'll do anything, senpai. I'm not afraid." Well, he was, but he could deal with it.

But Louis didn't move. "It's wrong. I should go myself. I'd rather you be safe."

Legosi was flabbergasted. "But...I'm a carnivore. I wouldn't be out of place at all there. But you...that wouldn't be safe at all." He reached out and placed a large hand on Louis' back, rubbing it gently.

Louis felt comforted. He turned around again, looking at him with that one eye. Just...looking...Legosi-kun...What are you doing to me…

Legosi's face was tired, but happy, now with a twinge of concern. His cheek fur bunched up where he laid it on the pillow, and his deep set eyes held an innate kindness. His ears twitched and turned, catching the sounds from the room, while his nose wiggled with each breath.

Louis' heart thumped. How could he have ever hated this wolf? His eye was puffy from crying, but it was clear he was tired. The deer was skinnier than the last time Legosi had seen him. His antlers were still well balanced. He just stared at Legosi with that tired eye. The longer he looked the more his feelings were being confirmed.

Legosi reached out to rub Louis' arm, touching him as much as he could. "So...do I want to know why you need a gun for this plan?"

"You'll be there when it happens," Louis said. "It's going to be one of the greatest decisions of my life. Other than...becoming your friend. I would be dead if I hadn't..."

Legosi smiled a full smile, showing his teeth. "Thanks." The plan sounded scary, but he trusted Louis. The wolf yawned.

"Are you ready to sleep for the night?" Louis asked.

"Mhm." Legosi rubbed his eyes. "I got up really early to come here." Legosi stood up, taking his jeans off so he was just in his boxers and t-shirt. He then slipped in under the covers, next to Louis. "I didn't think to pack a toothbrush, but I guess skipping a night can't hurt."

Louis blushed red. He had seen him in his boxers and it was...pretty...He was facing Legosi on his side. "I'm going to kill myself if I wake up from this dream."

Legosi's ears folded back. "D-don't say things like that, senpai." He reached out and pulled Louis into him. "It's not a dream, either. I promise."

Louis' grew sad. "Actually...I thought about jumping out of the window to my death, but I stopped myself…"

Legosi didn't respond, but his eyes stung with tears. He could have lost his senpai forever in the worst way possible...He didn't even want to imagine it.

They were so close, fur brushing against each other. It was soft and warm...Louis scooted closer to him on his own accord. "Please don't leave me…" Now it was him saying it.

"I'll be here when you wake up. You have my word," Legosi promised.

The deer nodded and scooted even closer, closing his eye, his legs curling up a bit and in the process one of them going in between Legosi's. Louis didn't mind. Let their legs get tangled up, so what? He finally had Legosi again. That's all that mattered.

Legosi craved every bit of contact Louis was giving him. It soothed him as they just laid there and he drifted off into a deep sleep.

There were nothing but good dreams.

Author's Note: The song that goes along with this chapter is called Heart by Stars. Please listen to it and enjoy.