Chapter 30 - I Woke Up This Morning and You Were There Next to Me

The first thing Legosi felt waking up was warmth. His eyes slowly fluttered open. The early morning sun streamed in, landing on the antlers on the pillow next to him.

Oh right. That really did happen last night.

He and Louis' bodies were tangled in a sloppy embrace. The deer was breathing softly. The look on his face was so delicate...beautiful. Legosi couldn't believe any of this was real, still.

He reached a wayward finger out, stroking the side of the deer's face, tracing his features. His relaxed brow, strong jawline, large ears. He moved up to his antlers, gliding his claw through the grooves. He smiled. How on earth did he get lucky enough to get Louis to himself like this?

He had an intrusive thought of eating him, but that didn't even phase him. It was so far removed from what he actually wanted. He wasn't worried in the slightest.

Louis continued to lay there, sleeping softly. His lips were parted a bit and he let out slow breaths. Herbivores really were beautiful creatures.

Legosi worked his way across the antlers and back down Louis' face. His hand found itself to Louis' chin, which he scratched. He knew he liked chin scratches, so maybe Louis might too. He used his other hand to grab one of the deer's hands, which he squeezed.

He could lay here with him forever.

Louis looked so peaceful, like nothing wrong ever happened in his life. The eyepatch kind of ruined this immersion but nonetheless...He had him back. He was right here. It was just unbelievable.

Legosi slowly reached a claw under the eyepatch...and pulled away. No, he wouldn't want him to see. He'll show him when he's ready.

The wolf pulled Louis closer. He was so used to being feared and hated for what he was, but Louis was able to find comfort in him. It made him feel like he wanted to be a wolf. He wanted to be a wolf for Louis. His beast.

He wondered if his mom would be happy for him.

Suddenly, the deer stirred. "Mm..."

Legosi froze, not moving from this very close position, holding Louis' hand under the covers, his other hand resting gently on the side of his neck, and pressing his nose between his eyes (well, between one eye and the eyepatch).

Louis eye opened. Hm...what's this warm blanket on me...It feels nice...He moved a bit.

Legosi held him tight, but loosened a bit to let Louis move as he pleased.

The herbivore moved his head. It's comfortable. I haven't been this comfortable in a long time...Ever since...That morning with...him…

Legosi brought his head back a bit to look at Louis. His fidgeting was adorable. He brought his hand up to rub his cheek again.

Louis' eye widened a bit as he realized the situation. "So...it was real...You're...Here..." He sounded very tired.

Legosi smiled. "Mhm. How did you sleep, Louis-senpai?"

Louis rubbed his eye. "Amazing..." He yawned for the first time around the canine.

Legosi caught a whiff of Louis' morning breath. It smelled awful. He didn't care. However, that yawn caused him to yawn in turn.

Louis smiled a bit. "I don't think I'll ever get used to dog breath..." He paused. "...That was another joke..."

"Mmm, that's fine. You said dogs are cute, anyway." Legosi laid his head back on the pillow, closing his eyes, still smiling. The sun caught the cream-colored fur of his face, illuminating it.

Louis laid back down next to him. "Mm..." He was a very tired deer.

"...So...does that plan of yours have a timeframe?" Legosi really didn't want to get up yet.

"Later, Legosi-kun..." He nuzzled his cheek.

"...And breakfast?" This wolf always had food on the mind.

"If we have to..." he yawned again, smacking his lips.

Legosi blinked slowly. It was strange how calm he felt. If he had told himself a week ago that he'd be in this position, his past self would have been an anxious mess. But now that he was here with Louis...it was so easy. "I'm glad you're comfortable enough to lay with me like this. I like being close to you, senpai..."

Louis' eye closed again. "Mmm...yeah...me too..."

Legosi maneuvered himself downward, placing his head so now his nose was in Louis' shoulder. His eyelids grew heavy again...

Legosi's eyes opened once more. He was on his back now, stretched across the bed. His head moved to where the deer was and found that he wasn't here. His heart sank a bit as he saw the empty space and the ruffled sheets where Louis once was.

He turned his head to look around the room and then saw him, sitting at his desk and writing on some paper.

"You snore pretty loudly, you know," Louis said.

"Oh...I'm sorry…" Legosi blinked, staring at him. He seemed much more awake and full of energy than before.

"It's fine," Louis said. He stood up and Legosi noticed the straight posture and face he had carried at school. The deer came up to him and handed him the paper. "This is the note you're going to take to the black market. Don't lose it."

Legosi tried to not look as startled as he had been when Louis came over. He looked down and read it, a yawn slipping out.

It talked about their circumstances and such and that Legosi was a friend and it hinted at what the gun was for but it didn't completely say. It had his signature at the end.

"I'll tell you where to take it later," Louis said.

Legosi looked at Louis, ear twitching. "So...this animal knows you?"

"Yes," was all he said.

"O-okay. When should I leave? And how am I getting out of here?"

"Later," Louis said, coming to hug him again, his face softening. "I'm not ready for you to leave quite yet." Especially to somewhere like that…

Legosi hugged him back. "Alright. I guess I'm stuck in this room, then." He rubbed the deer's back slowly.

"Looks like it. Beep boop."

The wolf snorted and then laughed out loud. He quickly covered his mouth. "Oops."

"Don't forget, Shogi knows you're here," Louis whispered.

"Oh..." Legosi looked around. "Well, there's more than just him, right?"

"Yeah." He pulled back and smiled. His hand rested on Legosi's hard chest. "He's going to do whatever he can to make sure you don't get caught."

"Oh! Well, it's good that there's one animal here to help us."

Louis nodded, still smiling. "Yeah."

The carnivore's stomach growled audibly. He grinned shyly. "Heh, deja vu?"

"I'll go get you breakfast. Stay right here." His hand left his chest and he turned to leave.

Legosi moved to follow him instinctively, but had to stop himself. Instead, he decided to get the rest of his clothes back on and sit on the edge of the bed, waiting for him.

Seeing Louis-senpai again...I'm so glad he's safe. Every time he speaks or looks at me, I want to tell him how I feel...But...I can't yet.

It wasn't long before Louis was back, carrying a tray. "I hope you like egg sandwiches."

Legosi's eyes widened, tail wagging. "Oh, definitely! Y'know, the ones they sell at the school store are really great on Friday! Although, they used to be good on Wednesdays, but then it changed? I don't know, but Jack thought I was crazy for thinking there was a difference, but there definitely was!" Another one of Legosi's rambles. "I guess we'll see how this one compares."

Louis just admired his rambling. He sighed and then cleared his throat. "Anyway...Uh...Enjoy."

And enjoy he did. Legosi wolfed the sandwich down and he sang its praises. It was so rich and the bread was grilled to perfection as well. Even the orange juice was amazing. Legosi couldn't stop wagging his tail.

Louis found himself staring again. The way carnivores eat...It's almost frightening to watch...But I can't stop looking.

Legosi held a warm smile once he was finished, eyes closed and swaying slightly in his seat.

The deer smiled and picked up his own celery and veggie sandwich, taking a small bite.

Legosi breathed through his nose in contentment. He observed Louis eating his breakfast slowly and deliberately. The way he eats is much different than me...He takes small bites and takes his time chewing. Herbivores are beautiful even when doing something as simple as eating…

Louis was in the middle of a bite and looked up. He chewed the piece off. "What?"

"Hm? Nothing." Legosi looked away, scratching his ear. "So, what have you been doing all these months?"

"Reading." Louis said. "Let's see...Reading some more. I play shogi with Shogi weekly. He's a really great guy."

The wolf chuckled at the names. "Read anything good?"

"Uhhhhhhhhhh..." He thought about all the cheesy romance novels he had the sheep get for him. "Really, nothing."

"...What does your father want from you?" Legosi prodded. He wanted to know the details, but he didn't want to upset him. "What does he gain from keeping you here and not letting you go anywhere?"

"I don't even know. That's one of the biggest issues. Is he disappointed? Angry? Frankly, I could care less how he feels. I mean, I know that he is very upset with me for giving up on becoming a Beastar, but why does that matter to him? It's my life. I also...Got my fiance to call off our wedding. That could be another reason he's mad."

Legosi's ears perked. "What?" So he's not with Haru or his fiance...Maybe...But not yet…

Louis didn't answer.

"...Well, I don't know how he expects you to accomplish anything if you can't leave this place." Legosi traced his claw in a circle around his plate. "So, I get you this gun...What happens then...?"

"You'll see."

Legosi had a few ideas as to what the plan was. None of them good. He didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to trust Louis. His ears perked up. "Oh! I should let everyone know I'm alright!" He pulled his phone out, texting everyone who knew about his little trip that he was okay.

Jack, Haru, the guys from drama club. They were all happy to hear that the two of them were safe. Legosi put his phone away.

"Haru and the guys from club say hi." Legosi looked up, realizing he sort of interrupted him. "Uh, I'm sure everything will go fine, senpai." He hoped that sounded genuine.

Louis nodded. "I'll have a gun, it's going to go my way no matter what."

Legosi nodded. That might be the case, but he knew he'd be prepared to protect Louis no matter what happened. "Do you have any idea what to do when we...get out of here...?" He was getting a bad feeling in his stomach.

"Hm?"

"I mean, if that's what the plan is leading to. Us getting out of here together."

"Let's get to that part first," Louis said.

"Okay..." The wolf was getting antsy. He wished they could just skip past all this. To a time where he and Louis were both safe, and they were free to walk outside together without anything happening. He wanted it so bad it hurt.

Louis put a hand on his head. "We're going to be fine."

"Okay. I trust you." Legosi leaned into the touch, smiling.

Louis just looked at him. I'm ready to escape with you, but my nerves are holding me back…I know you trust me, but I don't even trust myself. This is risking your life by sending you to the Black Market and this is risking both of our lives by doing what I'm about to do...Hopefully everything works out, or else...I don't even want to think about it.