Chapter 33 - In Our Bedroom After the War

The pair began their trek back to Cherryton, Louis talking about everything he went through while he was gone. There wasn't much, but Legosi really admired his friendship with Shogi. He really hoped they'd see one another again.

The entire situation got Legosi thinking about his own family situation. He had a tough time growing up, but he was shown love still. He thought about how it had been so long since he's talked to his grandfather, who had essentially raised him. He thought maybe he should fix that soon.

Maybe he'd like to meet Louis one day...whenever Legosi would be comfortable telling Louis about his strange lineage.

Louis had clearly never known real love from anyone...From his birth until now, even.

Louis opened the door to his dorm after they returned. "Thank goodness it's unlocked. He walked in and looked around, sighing in relief. "Just like I left it...It's like they were waiting for me to come back."

"I...I was really scared when I came here the first day and you weren't here." Legosi looked over the empty room, and then back to Louis, confirming that he was there now.

"I was so angry...I had plans with you that day..." Louis clenched his hands into fists. "And you were just left with nothing...It wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry."

"Senpai, don't blame yourself for that. You had no control of it." He looked around. "And...now we have all the time we want to hang out, right?"

Louis got up and shut the door. "It just dawned on me that I have no responsibilities at all anymore."

He opened his satchel and smiled when he saw everything was still inside. "I still have a ton of money from my father, so that will last me a long while. It's technically not stealing since he gave it to me. I'd get money every month, but I wouldn't really spend it." His ears perked. "Now I can buy you that nicer shirt!" Even months later, he remembered.

Legosi smiled softly. "I'd like that.." He still felt uneasy about the situation, but right now...right now was all that mattered.

Louis smiled, sitting on the bed, feeling that softness once more. He crossed a leg over the other.

"Uh, mind if I take a shower here? I mean, curfew, you know." Legosi rubbed the back of his neck.

"Go ahead." Louis gestured.

"I still don't have a change of clothes, but it's better than nothing." Legosi set his backpack down and took his sweater off, placing it on top of it. He entered the bathroom, shutting the door gently.

Louis laid back and stared at the ceiling. Would it be like this if we lived together? He could wake up by my side every morning...Protect me...I never realized I wanted someone to take care of me so badly. I always wanted to do things for myself, now I know I can't do it alone. He's always been there for me. Even now, I still want to see him...He really is just another animal. It doesn't matter that he's a carnivore and I'm a herbivore. I love him.

He got up after a long while of thinking about the wolf and everything they'd been through and went to the bathroom door, putting his hand on it. Legosi...is this all just a friendship to you?

The water stopped, followed by thumping sounds, sounds of a towel being taken off a rack, a cabinet opening, and then a fur dryer blowing. Louis just listened to the sounds all the while, keeping his hand on the door. This whole time if all of this is because we were friends... The thought saddened him.

Legosi opened the door, only wearing his shirt and boxers again, fur fluffed out and soft from being dried. He looked at Louis with a quizzical expression, soon turning into a lopsided grin that showed his teeth. "...Sorry I took so long? I guess you need to use the toilet, huh..."

"Uh..." he pulled his hand back. "It's my turn to shower." He moved past him and shut the door, just like that.

Legosi blinked, wondering what he was in such a rush for. He guessed he just needed a shower to clear his head, which must have been filled with so many thoughts after he did something like that.

The wolf moved toward the bed, flopping down on it and staring at the ceiling. He felt refreshed, the hot shower making it easier to think. Senpai...we've grown closer than I ever could have imagined...If this is all we can have, then I'll be happy. But, if there was ever a chance that you'd want more...I'll say yes in an instant. But for now, I'll wait for you.

He heard the shower go on, and the thought of the fact that Louis' petite and beautiful body was in there now, naked entered his mind. He covered his face, groaning. Sure he was happy with how they were now in his mind, but his body was still a bit frustrated. He was thankful, at least, that imagining Louis' nude body didn't make him hungry.

Louis was taking a while. He earned it, though. Legosi sat up, wandering into the kitchen and looking around to see if any food was around.

In the shower, Louis was thinking about Legosi and a rather intense fantasy entered his mind. The two of them...together...In such a way Louis would dare not say aloud.

The cabinets were empty. It made sense, of course, since he remembered the deer saying he had to be brought food before he was taken by his father. No matter. Legosi dug into his backpack and pulled out his last granola bar. He walked over to the garbage to eat it, not wanting to get crumbs anywhere in Louis' dorm.

The shower turned off and the sounds of the curtains opening could be heard.

Legosi finished up his snack quickly, walking back over to the bed and falling down onto it again on his back, hands behind his head. He awaited his senpai.

Louis opened the door after being in there for a while longer. He was shirtless, wearing only his pants from before. He was looking back in the bathroom. "I need new clothes. I didn't bring anything with me besides my satchel, my phone, and my keys." His frame was skinny and his ribs were showing, but he had a nice chest.

Legosi stared at Louis. He looked so frail, yet so strong. The young buck that stood up to his father and took his own life back. Legosi had always admired him, but now he did more than ever. "We can get them when we get my shirt."

The deer came closer. "That was a good shower..."

Legosi shifted slightly in the bed, knowing that Louis was coming to lay with him. "Because you're home now, right?"

Louis joined him. "Uh...Yeah." He thought back to what he was thinking about in there...Now that Legosi was next to him…So close...He pushed the thought away.

The wolf put an arm around him. "Looks like I'm staying over again..."

"Looks like it..." The deer got closer. He regretted thinking about him in that way, but he was just a teenager, he couldn't help his feelings and desires.

Legosi tried not to think about the fact that Louis was shirtless. He racked his brain for something to talk about. "So...we've been friends for a while but...I don't even know what you like to do for fun."

"Fun?" Being with you would be fun. "Uh...I guess I never got to do much fun stuff. I was always focused on my responsibilities."

"You never had any roommates to do anything with...or a childhood friend, it seems like." The canine stroked the fur on Louis' bare shoulder. "I might not be the best animal to do it, but I can show you some fun things. Like...video games or going to B-Strike. Although, I guess they don't do cross-species activities there..." Legosi scratched his head. There really wasn't much he liked to do. It all depended on the animals he was with.

Louis shrugged. "Maybe...I'd like to try." He nuzzled his arm.

"Have you ever been to B-Strike?"

"No..." Louis shook his head. He sniffed him, that nice soapy smell instead of the dog smell this time. It was nice to have a refreshed Legosi by his side.

Legosi sniffed him in retaliation, grinning. "It's really fun, although I'm not sure what a deer would do there...Canines go into a room where they wait for a ball to be launched out of a hole in a box, and then we have to chase it and bring it back. It's really fun!" Legosi's tail wagged underneath him just thinking about it.

Louis looked at the ceiling and smiled. That sounds really cute to watch. You're adorable... He moved a hand closer to the wolf under the covers. He had no idea what he was doing but he at least wanted to touch his arm. "I don't know, either. It would be nice to find out..."

"I want you to meet my friends, if that's okay with you..." Laying there with Louis...It was so calming. Domestic. He felt like the most comfortable wolf in the world.

"I want to take the steps to getting more friendly and fun." Louis said. "Not all stern and business-oriented." His hand scooted closer. He wanted to hold his hand. He wanted to feel his fur. He wanted Legosi to stroke his back. These thoughts terrified him.

"Guess that's a yes, then." Legosi felt the hand creeping toward him, and he reached out and grabbed it, holding it to his chest.

Louis smiled as his hand was grabbed and moved. He started rubbing his chest gently, slowly. It only lasted a few minutes before Legosi spoke again.

"These blankets are really warm..." He let go of Louis' hand and clumsily removed his shirt, throwing it onto the ground and laying back down. He didn't know what he was doing, but it felt right.

Louis' ears perked. "...Y-yeah..." He knew Legosi was only in his boxers now. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit...

"I'm tired, but I don't wanna sleep. Tonight was pretty wild, huh?"

"It was...but I'm free to do whatever I want now..." His hand stroked through Legosi's chest fur and he let out a breath. It was so soft...

Legosi let out a low, satisfied growl. He didn't know if Louis knew this was a canine's weak point or not, or whether or not he realized this was Legosi's plan. He brought his other hand up to scratch the back of Louis' head. "Where do you think you'll go after this?"

"I don't care right now, I'm in the present..." He turned on his side and rubbed the carnivore's chest, resting his head on his elbow. He had the urge to climb on Legosi but he suppressed that with all his might. Why was he feeling this way?

"Haah, hmmmm, yeah I...I understand. Not trying to, hmm, pressure you..." The chest rub felt so good, he could barely speak. He and his roommates would rub each other's chests sometimes, but they were never this delicate or intimate. It almost made it better, somehow.

Louis blushed more at the sounds. He moved closer. "Legosi...where will you go after this...?"

"After, hmmmm, graduation?"

"Yeah..." He rubbed his nose gently on Legosi's side.

The dog was nearly panting now from the rubs. "W-well, I haven't r-really thought about it. I like w-working with set design and lights, and I really like, haah, bugs too..." He remembered what he thought about earlier. "I'll probably finally visit home again, at least…"

"Sounds nice..." Louis said, he was smiling as he kept stroking Legosi's bare fur.

He got as close as he could, inspecting Legosi's face, his chest, his shoulders, his eyes...His fantasy came back to mind. Legosi wouldn't really want someone with one eye, would he…?

"M-maybe you'll become a f-famous stage actor, haah, and I'll design the sets for all of your shows, haah, and do your lighting..." He brought his arm down to wrap around Louis.

Louis nuzzled under his arm. "I'd love that..."

Legosi squeezed him, eyes screwed shut. "S-senpai! I c-can't talk anymore. Th-the rubs feel too good..." He just stayed like that, holding Louis as he stroked the soft fur of his chest.

Louis didn't even stop. "..." He looked at the face of the canine, having an extremely strong urge, suddenly. He began leaning in. Then stopped. It was better to let lying dogs lie.

…

…

…

Louis couldn't take it anymore. He leaned in pressed his lips against Legosi's, obliterating the space in between them.

Legosi's eyes shot open wide. He stayed still, letting Louis kiss him. He was frozen. He squeezed the deer even closer.

Louis pressed into the kiss. His emotions were exploding. He closed his eyes, feeling Legosi's warm mouth against his. He felt those rough teeth behind his lips, wondering if this what it was like to kiss a carnivore. It didn't matter. This is what it was like to kiss the wolf he loved.

Legosi's mind snapped back on, and took all of his willpower to pull away, if only slightly. "S-senpai!"

Louis' eyes opened. "U-uh...I..."

The wolf panted. "A-are you sure this is what you want?" He couldn't believe it. Louis had actually kissed him? He felt unworthy. He needed to give him a chance to back away before he could feel completely okay about this. "I-I-I mean I'm just some nobody wolf, a-and you're an herbivore and we're both males and...it's going to be difficult..." He stared back into that large round eye, losing himself in it.

Louis looked to the side. "I don't care what you are, Legosi. I never have. We're just two animals trying to make it in this world. You saved me...twice now...I just want you to know how much I appreciate you..." The deer swallowed. Had he overstepped? Did Legosi not feel the same...?

Legosi breathed in deeply, and then exhaled. He was smiling now, unable to hold it back. His tail was going nuts underneath the blankets. Louis really liked him? "I'm glad, senpai."

Louis smiled. "You are?"

"I...I guess you like me as much as I like you. That makes me glad." He turned his head to face him again, going in for a kiss on the cheek. He wasn't as bold as Louis, after all, but it still felt amazing.

"I don't think anyone can like you as much as I do after everything..."

Legosi turned on his side to face Louis, still embracing. "Well, I can certainly try." There was a pause. "Uh, just so you know, the guys in club found out I had a crush on you while you were away, so when they find out about this...don't be too overwhelmed by their reaction."

Louis kissed his nose. "I think...I have more than a crush..." He looked to the side and swallowed, his throat feeling rough and dry. "I-I don't know...maybe I'm just being stupid..."

"M-me too!" Legosi suddenly shot out from the embrace, holding Louis by the shoulders with an intense expression on his face. "I-it's more than a crush! I've loved you for a while now, senpai!"

Louis ears went back. Once again that innocent expression. Then he smiled. "I love you, too, Legosi..."

Legosi felt dizzy. The culmination of all those months...and now, somehow, this. Somehow, he was able to achieve this. After tragedy upon tragedy in his life, he was able to obtain something like this. It was mind boggling, to say the least. He hugged Louis again. "I love you, Louis-senpai! I love how you smell, the way you walk, the way you smile, the way you laugh. I want to be with you wherever life takes you! I want to be by your side!" He was nearly shouting, the torrent of months upon months of emotions pouring out. He couldn't stay bottled up anymore, and Louis finally took the cork out. "P-please let me stay with you!"

Louis sighed affectionately. "I love the way your ears twitch, your smile, your unending loyalty, the softness of your fur, the way your tail gives away your happiness...how nice you are...I couldn't handle being without you those months we were separated...You're so beautiful, I could never match it...I never want to be apart like that again, Legosi."

"Y-you're beautiful too, though! I don't mind if you're missing an eye! You're still the most beautiful animal I've ever seen, senpai!" To an outsider, it might seem like they were trying to have a competition.

Louis put a hand on his eyepatch. "You think so...?"

"I do! You always took my breath away...Even before...That night…"

"Even before then...That must be how you were able to stop trying to eat me."

"I guess so." Legosi had almost forgotten about that night. He had to make sure now. "Senpai, you're still okay with this, even though I almost ate you before? Isn't that strange to you? Don't you ever think about that?"

"You've never tried again." Louis said. He rubbed both his hands on his bare chest, finally moving to straddle him.

"H-haah!" Legosi looked away, blushing.

Louis moved his hands and squeezed his cheeks. "You've saved me twice, all on your own. No one else even tried. But you..." He put his forehead to his.

Legosi closed his eyes, enjoying the warm feeling on his head. "Because...I use my strength to protect the animals I love."

"That's the real reason I wanted to see you every day...I can't even imagine being away from you now."

Legosi laughed. "Well, you'll still let me go to class, right?"

"Hmm...you might have to go with me clinging to your leg." Louis said. He laughed gently, moving his head back. "I'm kidding of course. You can just keep me plugged into the wall while you're gone."

"And then I get to come home and teach you how to have fun." Legosi thought on that for a moment. "O-oh, I guess uh...I'll just stay here now, if that's fine. I'm sure my friends will be okay with it."

"If you won't get sick of me..." Louis' fantasy came back into his mind. Would they even be able to...? He looked to the side. "You probably would."

"Never." The word came out instantly and firm.

"And guess what else!" Louis reached his arms up and started playing with his ears.

His ears flapped whenever Louis touched one. "Wh-what's that?"

"We can go out without worrying about being caught now!" He smiled. "To restaurants, shops, maybe even hotels if we want to stay out for a while." He was thinking of all the possibilities. It made him grin more. "And we can maybe start looking for a job for me so I can keep a steady income."

"Y-yeah! And if any animals come up to you with that...that Beastar crap! I'll scare them off!" Legosi tried to make a scary face. It didn't really work.

Louis laughed. "My father will put out a statement for sure. People already didn't want me to be the Beastar anyway." He rubbed his thumbs against the insides of Legosi's ears, enjoying the smoothness. He also liked straddling him, his fur was soft against his legs and thighs.

Legosi hummed. That...felt really good.

He continued. Louis was sure he'd like this more without pants. Of course, still in his underwear! He could only feel the fur through the pants, though. His mind raced with all the things they could do as lovers. Best not to rush anything. He was in such a good mood, he almost felt high.

"S-senpai I...I really like this but...I-I think we should stop for the night. I'm not...ready." Legosi had just realized he had been aroused for quite a bit now.

"Erm..." Louis quickly got off. "Oh...sorry..." He turned around and laid the other way with his eyes wide. What the fuck did I just do...? Idiot!

"It's okay! It's me, not you!" Legosi put an arm around him, but was careful not to press his body against him. At least, not until he calmed down. "I'd...uh...one day I'd like to...but uh...I'm not ready yet." His face was on fire.

The deer blinked. "If you're not ready to date, I get it..." He didn't know what was really going on with Legosi. "Sorry..."

"N-no I was...I was talking about...s...s..." He found he couldn't say the word. "I'm going to date you, senpai! I'm going to be your boyfriend!"

Louis turned around. "S...?"

The wolf withdrew, covering his face and curling up in a ball. "J-just...I'm not ready to have sex with you, yet…"

His ears perked. "Oh...I wasn't even trying to." He snorted. "What brought that up?"

"W-well the way you were on top of me it...I got excited..."

Louis' face went red and he covered it. "I'm not used to any of this..." His thoughts turned to how Legosi said he wanted to try it someday. Now he was excited. He turned back around quickly. "We should sleep!"

"W-well you had sex with Haru-chan before, right? I haven't even done it once. I've...never even dated before. Or been in love..."

"Oh...yeah...I guess Haru-chan and I never really talked about it, though…" He rolled over to face him once again. "We can take our time, Legosi. I won't push you into anything you aren't ready for." He found his eyes again. "Especially if you're the one I love…" He blushed. "I want you to be happy and only happy."

"H-have you ever liked a male before? Before me?"

"Never. I don't think I've truly loved anyone before. Like this."

Legosi wrapped his arms around him. He didn't want to be separated in any way right now. Or ever.

Louis sighed contentedly. "Thank you for saving me, Legosi."

"I'll always be there to save you." Legosi thought to himself for a moment. "Thank you for saving me, too..."

"Huh?"

"For showing me how to use my strength. For helping me not hate what I am. Helping me express my feelings...I feel like I've been imprisoned all my life, too...until now."

"You're gorgeous..." The deer said, huffing.

Legosi took a sharp intake of breath. He wasn't sure if he'd ever get used to comments like that.

"Sorry for kissing you earlier...Something just came over me..." Louis sighed.

"Well, if it wasn't for that...we wouldn't be where we are right now..." He bit his lip. "Although...I feel like it would have just happened tomorrow, anyway. Or the day after. Or the one after that."

"Or the one after that."

"...Or the one after that."

The two talked all night about everything and about nothing, eventually embracing and not letting go, their hearts beating as one. They were so happy to have one another to love and to hold. The possibilities of what they could do now were endless. They had defied the odds that were against them and were together. Nothing could touch them now.

The war was over and they had won.

Author's Note: The song that goes with this chapter is In Our Bedroom After the War by Stars. And so the 18 Chapter Arc 3 comes to a romantic close! Man, what an experience. You've made it so far, readers. And to my regular readers who read this daily, I love you 3 Of course, this is just the beginning of these two's realationship. There is still a ton of story to tell. It's very far from over. For some of you, this will be your ending if you have not finished the manga, considering there are spoilers going on from here. For others, it is your end because I am playing it out realistically and this story became rated M for a reason. For others, this was a perfect ending and nothing needs to be expanded upon. For others, you're burnt out on this story. But for the ones who are staying, you have a ton to look forward to and I can't wait for you to see it all.