Chapter 66 - The Concept of An Interspecies Relationship is a Dangerous One

Legosi dropped his suitcase, melting into the hug with Gosha. "Grandpa...I'm sorry..."

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Legosi. I'm glad you're home now," the lizard smiled, closing his eyes.

The wolf squeezed tight, remembering the rough texture.

Louis recomposed himself.

Gosha withdrew from his grandson, remembering there would be another animal with him. He peered around, spying one behind him. He blinked. Before him was a short, handsome red deer with an eyepatch covering his left eye. He stood there, holding his suitcase and dressed similarly warmly to Legosi.

Well...that's not what I was expecting. Gosha smiled. "Hello! I'm Gosha! Legosi's grandfather." He bowed politely, careful not to touch Louis in case some of his poison was somehow on his hands.

The deer bowed. "Louis. It's so nice to meet you, sir."

Gosha smiled wide at the two boys. "Well, get inside! It's warmer, for sure!" He turned around, careful not to hit them with his large tail. He looked over his shoulder at the animals following them inside. "Where will Louis be staying?"

Legosi took a deep breath. "With me. In my room." They removed their shoes.

Louis nodded. "Unless you want me to sleep somewhere else. It's your house."

Gosha held his hands up. "No, no, that works out! The only other room was Legosi's mother's and..." the old lizard looked at Legosi, whose ears drooped at the mention. He decided not to go further. "Well, once you boys are unpacked, I made some banana bread! We can all get to know each other over that. Sound good?" Who is this deer? I feel like I've seen him before...

Legosi lead his fiance through a hallway and into his room, which remained unchanged since he was 12. As such, the walls were covered with scientific posters of insects. Everything was kept tidy and dusted by Gosha, and thankfully, the bed Legosi had slept in as a kid was full sized, albeit meant for one animal.

Legosi set the suitcase down on the floor and sat down heavily on the bed, gauging Louis' face for any kind of reaction.

The herbivore didn't make any of the sort, setting his suitcase down and looking around. "Wow. Cute room. You've been into bugs for a while now."

The carnivore looked around them, smiling with a sad nostalgia. "Yeah. Way more back when I was a kid." He shed his jacket, setting it on the bed next to him.

Louis came and sat next to him.

Legosi twiddled his thumbs. "So...what do you think?"

"I said it was cute."

"I mean...my grandpa."

"He makes me love you even more, if I'm being honest." He laid back, legs dangling from the bed.

Legosi blinked. "R-really? Even though I'm...I'm part komodo dragon...I never told you..."

"I knew. Well...I knew you weren't full wolf," Louis revealed. "It's your eyes. They aren't like Juno's or Alpha's. Coupled with the fact that you were in the drama club..."

Legosi blinked his eyes. "Oh...yeah they look really similar to his...not the eyes of a canine." He smiled. "Every time you said you liked my eyes...it made me feel really good."

"I love your eyes. Just like you love mine."

The wolf kissed his forehead. "Thanks for coming here with me."

"I am so excited to be here! Seeing him...It really reaffirms that we can do this."

"Yeah...I've been thinking about it since we started dating, actually. An interspecies relationship...and one with a venomous animal...I can finally relate to him. He's had to go through a lot..."

"Wow..."

Legosi grabbed his hand. "Well, ready to eat some banana bread?"

"I've never had it."

Legosi stood up, pulling Louis up with him. "You'll love it, I bet!"

"Ooh! I can cook for your grandfather!"

"You can!"

"What should I cook?" Louis asked. "Do you know what he likes?"

Legosi squinted, trying to remember. "Uh, well he likes omelets. At least, that's what he'd always make me in the morning..."

"I think that can't be hard at all to make. Let's get settled and then go talk to him."

"Yeah." The wolf stood up, getting acquainted with his room again. He brought most of his stuff to Cherryton. What remained were various notebooks he kept as a child, as well as some toys and books. All were kept as he had remembered. He walked slowly around the room, realizing how small it seemed now.

Louis watched him. He felt like quite the special animal to be in a place like this. "How does it feel to be...back?"

Legosi took a deep breath in, noting the scent. It was quite different than he remembered, due to Gosha's vigorous upkeep, no doubt. "Not as strange as I thought it'd be." He went over to the closet and opened it. Unsurprisingly, it was empty. He walked over to his suitcase and lugged it over, dropping it in the empty space.

"I wonder if it's similar to the feeling I had when you rescued me and we came back to Cherryton."

Legosi bit his lip, looking up at the ceiling. He even cleaned up there. "That could be..."

"Could be what?"

"The same feeling." The wolf looked back at Louis, who was still sitting on his bed. It was a strange feeling, seeing the most important thing in his life in the present here in the room where he spent the most time in his past.

Louis looked around more. "It's comfortable here. Very homey."

"Yeah...that's grandpa."

"That's cute. It's so neat, too."

Legosi shed his jacket, hanging it on the back of the chair by his old desk. "I always took him for granted. I feel bad."

"Don't feel bad. What do you mean by that?"

Legosi shrugged. "I never realized how hard it must be for him. Having the family he had, being a venomous animal. I was selfish and only cared about my feelings."

"Woah, calm down. You were just a kid."

Legosi scratched his head. "Yeah, I know. I guess I just want to make it up to him, now."

"Then show him."

Legosi nodded. "I'm ready whenever you are."

The deer stood up. "Let's go, then."

Gosha had sliced the banana bread and placed it in the center of the small table, careful to keep his hands clean and away from it. Mugs of heated apple cider were also prepared. He sat in his chair, thousands of thoughts floating in his head. Legosi is back. He brought a male deer with him. They're probably dating. He shook his head, smiling. You take too much after your grandfather. He looked toward the hallway when he heard approaching footsteps.

Both Louis and Legosi came out from behind the corner. The deer looked toward the dessert on the table. "It smells good, Gosha-san."

Gosha smiled, his kind eyes squinting just as Legosi's did. "Thank you!" I flicked his tongue out, getting a taste of the air himself. "A neighbor gave me this recipe. I hope you like it."

Legosi took a seat across from his grandfather and Louis sat close to him, waiting for his partner to speak.

Instead, Gosha spoke again. "Now Louis, I don't want to scare you, but I'm a venomous animal. Do you know what that means?"

Legosi groaned quietly.

Louis nodded. "You secrete poison from your body?"

Gosha nodded, pointing to his mouth. "From glands inside my mouth! I can control them, but when I feel strong emotions they can come open! I clean everything fairly often, but make sure you wash your hands a lot while here. Let me know if you feel sick or strange."

"Yes, sir," Louis said.

Legosi sighed. "Grandpa, don't scare him."

The lizard held his hands up. "Whaaat? I'm just giving him important information! It's a serious issue."

The deer nodded. "I agree. Being aware of the situation is pretty important, hon."

Gosha blinked, not showing anything else on his face, though. "See?"

Legosi just grumbled, but he had a smile on his face. He bit into his bread, feeling the crunch of walnuts. And was that...cinnamon? "Mmmm!"

Louis took a bite of his and grinned lightly. "It is very good. Thank you, sir."

The reptile chuckled. "So polite! Please, just call me Gosha!" The lizard spied both of their left hands. They wore matching rings. He swallowed. "Or grandpa, if you'd like that."

"G-grandpa..." the herbivore blushed lightly. "I've never had a grandfather before."

Gosha's smile grew ever wider. "I'd be glad to be your first."

Legosi sat there, eating his bread and blushing. Grandpa had to know. And he seemed fine with it.

"It's funny," Louis began. "We only got engaged two days ago but it feels so..." He searched for the word in his mind.

Legosi tensed up, which didn't go unnoticed by Gosha. He was a young man now, but he still had some of the same mannerisms. "Oh? Engaged? That's very fast, for high school. You must have known each other for a while..."

Louis looked at his mate. "How long now?"

"Well, we knew each other since I joined drama club, but we didn't become friends until spring." Legosi sipped on his cider.

"So, a few years?"

Legosi nodded.

Gosha observed his grandson's fiance more closely. He had a fairly deep voice which held a sort of casual dignity to it. He was definitely polite, as well. That eyepatch was still a puzzle, though. And he still couldn't shake the feeling that he looked familiar. "Well, me and Legosi's grandmother got engaged only after a few months, as well. Of course, our marriage was illegal at the time."

Louis sighed. "Even if it is frowned upon, I still don't see the harm if it's the couple's choice."

"Well, it comes from a place of reason, for sure. A venomous animal can harm or kill a non-venomous one. But as long as both parties practice safety and discretion, the government shouldn't impose their views on it." Gosha drank deep from his cider. I never expected this to happen, but I should have seen it coming. He is my grandson, after all. He's not going to follow society's views on love.

"Yes, but I'm not venomous," Louis said. "You must have gone through so much..."

Gosha simply smiled, and finally bit into his bread. "Oh, this did come out nicely! I'm glad I didn't mangle the recipe too badly."

"It's really good, grandpa."

The lizard turned his attention to Legosi. "So, how's school been? Jack and you are still best friends, right?"

"Oh, yeah! And all of my roommates. Although..." Legosi looked over at Louis. "I...moved into Louis' room back in October."

Gosha cocked his head in confusion. "Oh? They allowed that?"

The deer nodded. "The principal has taken a fondness to us, for whatever reason."

The dragon put a finger to his chin. "Hmm, well that's fortunate." The lizard switched gears, focusing on the deer now. "So, Louis. What are your plans after school?"

"I don't...attend school, sir."

Gosha looked puzzled. "Oh? Do you live off campus, then? Have you already graduated?"

Legosi shrunk in his chair. Grandpa, please just stop asking questions like that.

"...I dropped out. And...I still live at school..." Louis explained.

"I...see. Well, you must have made quite an impression on the principle if he lets you stay around."

"I still don't see how."

Legosi put his arm on Louis' shoulder. "Gon-san is a kind man. It makes sense."

Louis nodded. "Either way, I'm not complaining."

The three finished up their food. Gosha stood up, taking their dishes and putting them into the dishwasher. "So, boys? Anything planned during this visit?"

Legosi rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I just wanted to reconnect...and have you meet Louis. I haven't thought of anything else specific."

The cervid looked up. "I still want to talk to you."

"Oh? Well we can have a sit down in the family room and have a chat. My game shows are coming on, after all."

"Game shows? Huh." Louis smiled. "If you'd rather watch, I can hold my tongue."

Gosha chuckled. "I meant we can talk while they play. I usually just use them for background noise, anyway." The old lizard made his way into the other room, sitting in his big arm chair and turning on the television.

Louis and Legosi followed. The deer searched for a place to sit and found the couch. He waited for Legosi to move because he was just along for the ride.

The young carnivore sat on the far side of the couch heavily, leaving plenty of room for Louis.

Louis came and sat on the other side of the couch, a space between them.

Gosha turned to them, frowning slightly. "Now, now, you two! This is your home! Make yourselves comfortable!"

"What's the issue?" Louis tilted his head.

The old lizard held his hands up. "Well, unless you two aren't physically affectionate. That's completely fine. I just don't want my presence to impose anything between you."

"Oh, no...We are...Very!"

Legosi looked at Gosha, then to Louis. His tail wagging slowly, he backed into the deer, laying his head on his chest, wordlessly asking for scritches. Gosha chuckled.

Louis gave him the the scritches, but the wolf was still probably craving more than he was given. He smiled gently. "I really love your grandson."

Gosha looked on with a grin. "Well, that's good! I always knew Legosi would need another animal to look after him aside from me or his friend, Jack." He continued to observe the display of affection in front of him with amusement. It warmed his heart. This Louis fellow was a nice animal, he could tell. That's all he could ask for.

"Do you think so?"

"Of course!" the lizard exclaimed. Legosi was rubbing himself into the deer, making it clear that this was a common occurrence between the two. "And, I always knew Legosi was a cuddlebug. When he was little he'd do this sort of thing with me or his mother, but as he got older he grew more reserved. It's good to see him getting that sort of attention again."

Legosi opened his eyes and scowled at his grandfather. "You don't have to talk about me like I'm not here."

Gosha just laughed.

Louis smiled warmly, scratching Legosi's head. "Even though he's a big wolf, he's also a big softie. You know, it took us until this year to catch one another's interest. Or at least, mine."

Gosha nodded. "Yeah, you mentioned only becoming friends last spring. How long after that did you...become interested in each other?"

Louis thought for a moment. "Two months? Right, Legosi?"

Legosi shrugged. "I thought you were attractive for quite a while. It was shortly after we became friends that I realized it."

Gosha nodded. "And then you started dating in October. Well, speaking from experience, interspecies romance can be a bit confusing for both parties, but it's completely worth it in the end." The komodo dragon suddenly looked embarrassed. "O-of course, I wouldn't know what it's like for two men!"

The deer took a moment to gather his thoughts. "The concept of an interspecies relationship is a dangerous one, huh?"

Legosi squirmed uncomfortably, and Gosha rubbed his hands together. "W-well, that depends on who you ask, I guess. And the animals involved."

"Society, especially herbivores, don't like carniherbi couples because of how dangerous they are."

Gosha nodded. "Of course, what doesn't get reported are all the couples where things go fine." The lizard looked like he wanted to say something, but he refrained.

"It sure twisted our mentalities a bit," Louis said. "Then we realized...It's fine."

Legosi looked at his fiance and his grandfather, smiling. He was glad they were getting along. He still opted to remain silent, mostly due to the rubs he was receiving.

"It's fine! Of course, one must be careful with any relationship, taking into consideration the other animal." Gosha was still wrapping his head around the situation. It seemed so absolutely...ordinary. Leano, your boy has grown up. I hope you would be proud of him.

"Well, I think it falls on both animals to look after one another," Louis explained. "We actually discovered some...Interesting facts."

The reptile steepled his fingers, widening his eyes as he looked back over to the two. "Oh?"

Louis didn't understand why he felt so comfortable talking to this lizard about these things so soon. Right to the point, he guessed. "Legosi?"

The wolf opened his eyes, his ear twitching. He looked up at Louis, and then at Gosha. "Uhh..." Back to Louis, he whispered. "What did we learn?"

"Herbivore instincts? Remember?"

"Y-you want to tell him about that?"

"It's relevant."

Legosi blinked slowly, then turned back to Gosha, who was waiting patiently. "W-well, we found out that herbivores can have the instinct...like the desire to want to be eaten."

Gosha cocked his head. "Oh? Is that so? That's interesting. Me and your grandmother were both carnivores, of course, so we never came across a feeling like that."

"Of course," Louis nodded. "Well...I've learned that no one teaches you about that. Only carnivore instincts are the ones that matter."

"Probably because it's a more active role on the carnivore's part. It'd be quite difficult for an herbivore to have an unwilling carnivore eat them."

"Though, an herbivore doing something risky could get the carnivore's instincts to surface."

Gosha nodded. "True, true."

"That's why I believe it falls to both animals in the relationship. Which is why Legosi and I do...training."

Legosi covered his face, curling up in a ball. "Louiiiiis..."

The old animal simply looked at Louis, curiously.

The deer looked down. "What?"

The lizard laughed, sounding very similar to Legosi when he laughed. "Can you blame him for being embarrassed? This is the first time he's brought an animal home that he loves! He needs to get used to it."

"Ah, sorry." Louis pursed his lips.

Legosi turned around, squeezing the deer by the abdomen and pressing his face into his stomach, grumbling.

"Legosi, you know you can talk to me about anything. Whenever you feel comfortable with it, I'd be happy to hear about you two!" Gosha said, reassuringly.

The wolf pulled his face from Louis. "I-it's fine. It's not even something that...embarrassing." Legosi swallowed. It was closely associated with sex, so he felt weird about it, but Gosha wouldn't know that. "We just...sit next to each other while I hold my mouth open."

The lizard leaned forward, listening intently.

Louis nodded. "I used to have a lot stronger instincts when we started."

"I see," Gosha continued, carefully. "And...Legosi?"

The wolf looked up, his ears drawing back for a moment. "W-well, his instincts always were a bit stronger than mine."

"I see."

Louis rubbed his fiance's cheek. "He's a lot better at suppressing his instincts than I am. He's been doing it longer. A lot longer..."

Legosi's eyes widened, until he realized what Louis was actually talking about. "Y-yeah."

"That's true," Gosha agreed. "Of course, Legosi left for school before most carnivores develop those instinctive feelings." He looked at his grandson with a twinge of concern.

"Well, he's never tried to eat me before."

Legosi froze, not looking at any of the animals in the room. Gosha only got more concerned. Everyone stayed silent like that.

"Yeah," the wolf's voice came out quiet. He turned on Louis' lap, watching the game show.

The silence hung over them like a thick fog. "Anyway, because of our training...We've gotten a lot better with our instincts," Louis spoke up.

"That's good, you two. I'm so happy to hear that!" Gosha grinned.

"Do you think other carniherbi's would benefit from the same? Or too risky?"

The old man shrugged. "It's something they would have to do a study on. I think it would have benefits, like any kind of training, or therapy. Of course those things are also affected by the personalities of the ones involved. Legosi was never an aggressive animal, after all."

"Do you think Bill and Pina would trouble with it?" Louis asked Legosi.

Legosi puffed his cheeks out, thoughtfully, looking up at the ceiling. "I don't know. I don't even know what their relationship is like. They just, moved so fast without any regard to safety."

Gosha's eyes moved to Louis. "Oh? Are they classmates of yours?"

"Yes, they are. They just started dating a week or two ago. We've heard they are..." How should he put this.

Legosi cleared his throat. Gosha just sat there, listening.

"Active."

Gosha made a face of understanding. "What are their species?"

"Tiger and dall sheep."

Gosha continued nodding, face neutral. "And they're both boys like you?"

"They are."

"Woow. Now I feel old. Young animals must be a lot more open minded now."

Legosi looked back over. "We have two other friends in a similar relationship, actually. Dom and Kai."

"It sounds ridiculous out loud," Louis smirked.

"Ehhh, who cares about that!" Gosha waved his large, clawed hand in the air, before growing serious. "Of course, I do hope all you boys don't have too much trouble out there in the world..."

"We were harassed just before we got here."

Gosha's eyes shot open wide, and he stood up slightly, arms out as if he wanted to reach out to them. "Wh-whaaat? What happened? Are you okay?"

Legosi sat up slightly, holding his hand out like his grandfather. "I-it's alright, grandpa! We're not hurt!"

Louis laughed. "I lost my eye before this trip!"

The lizard looked at the deer nervously, and then sat back down. Yeah, and there's that, too. I won't ask about it until he decides to tell me...

Louis sighed. "I'm sorry, that was a bad joke."

Legosi addressed his grandpa once again. "Also, we've met so many animals that support us! It's not all bad."

Gosha put a hand to his head, letting a deep breath out. "Ah, that's good, that's good. Just, can't blame your grandfather for worrying."

"We did meet a homophobic gazelle once. Though...I guess he had his reasons," Louis admitted.

Gosha held his hands to his head, closing his eyes. "Ooooh, don't tell me these things! My poor heart can't bear it!" He was half joking, it seemed.

"Sorry!" Louis winced.

"Y-yeah! Sorry grandpa!"

"It's really only been two."

Gosha rested his hands folded on his chest, looking over at the boys. "Well, thank goodness for that! I can only hope it gets easier as time goes on." He looked back over at the television. "So...marriage, huh? It's a big step."

"It was an accident!" Louis exclaimed.

"What?"

"I mean! It was supposed to be a promise ring to bond us together!"

The reptile scratched his cheek. "Well, same concept, I guess. What happened, then?"

Legosi blushed. "Well, I thought they were engagement rings, so Louis just went with it."

"And suddenly I was on one knee pouring my heart out to your grandson!"

Gosha laughed deeply. "Oh, that sounds like Legosi, alright! Oh, I would have loved to have seen it."

"I can't even remember what I said, I was so nervous."

"You said I was your hero..." Legosi moved up, kissing Louis on the nose.

Louis reddened. "You are. You know this."

Gosha took in a breath, suddenly feeling his eyes grow wet. He brought a finger up to wipe them.

"You're my hero, too." The canine rubbed their noses together.

"Less, but yes." The couple noticed sniffling sounds coming from Gosha's direction. Louis looked up. "Gosha-san...?"

The old animal now had a handkerchief, dabbing at his eyes. "A-ah, it's nothing! Just this old lizard being emotional. I'll be alright!" He blew his nose.

"G-grandpa..." Legosi mumbled.

Louis blushed. "S-sorry, I got carried away."

Gosha sniffed. "D-don't apologize, Louis! It's a very wonderful thing. I am so happy for you two. I'm happy that my grandson was able to meet such a kind and considerate animal."

"I just...I was such a jerk in the beginning," the deer sighed.

Legosi hugged his deer. "It's okay, Louis. You were going through a lot."

"Mm..."

Gosha chuckled. "Exactly, and where you ended up is the most important part."

"Yes."

The three animals turned to the TV once again, watching whatever silly nonsense appeared on the gameshows. Gosha and Legosi would laugh at the same things.

Louis took this quiet moment to look around the room. It looked well lived in, yet tidy. Of course, this could have been a result of Gosha knowing they were coming. A few candles had been lit, as well, giving the room a sort of apple pie scent. The deer's eyes scanned toward the windowsill, where two smaller candles were lit. Next to them were framed pictures. One he could recognize as a younger Legosi, while the other two were female wolves that looked similar to him. Those must be his mom and grandmother. Louis thought. They don't talk about them at all. I feel like...I know.

"Oh, I should have known that one!" Gosha smacked the arm of his chair, lightly. "I was stationed there when I was in the military."

Legosi looked up and smirked at Louis. "Still gets really into his quiz shows, I see."

"That seems like a grandfather trait."

Legosi shifted, sitting up now. "I want to hold you, now."

"Me?"

"Who else?" he smiled, holding his arms out.

Louis blushed and went gladly into them.

Gosha looked over, observing Legosi's technique of placing his head on Louis' shoulder to avoid his antlers. "Ohh, that's how you do it. I was wondering that perhaps Louis would always have to be behind. I guess you made it work!"

"Of course we did," the deer smirked.

"Love finds a way," the lizard said in a sing-song voice.

"Love finds a way and so do we," Louis said. "Always." A pause. "That was cheesy."

Gosha chuckled. "No, the macaroni I had for lunch was cheesy!"

"You both do that?"

"Hm?"

Legosi laughed softly. "I made the same joke last night, grandpa! Only it was about a casserole Louis made."

"Yep," the herbivore nodded.

The komodo dragon blinked. "Oh? Do you cook, Louis?"

"Every meal. Almost. I'd like to cook for you, Gosha-san."

Surprise was clear on Gosha's face.

"He's right, grandpa! His food is really good, too," Legosi's tail wiggled beneath him.

The old lizard smiled. "I'd love to have one of your dishes!"

"I was thinking an omelette," Louis suggested.

Gosha sat up straighter, pointing a clawed finger at the deer excitedly. "Oh! Oh, oh! He knows me, Legosi!"

His grandson laughed. "That's because I told him you liked them!"

"Aw, Legosi! Why did you say that! I had something!" Louis complained.

"Hehe, sorry," Legosi nuzzled his face down into his deer's clavicle.

Gosha sat back, relieved. Okay, Legosi is comfortable with Louis around me now. I'm glad.

The deer grinned. "But yes, an omelette. How about in the morning?"

"Absolutely! You'll see that my kitchen is quite stocked with ingredients." He froze momentarily, before shooting up. "Oh, oh! Let me disinfect everything now while I'm still awake!" He took off into the kitchen, large tail swinging behind him.

"How early do you go to bed, Gosha-san?"

"Oh! Around ten o'clock! But I'm on holiday, so it's been earlier," the reptile called out from the kitchen.

"How late do we usually go to bed, Legosi?"

"Uh, around 10 as well, when I have class. We've stayed up later, though."

"Of course. I'm sure he has, too."

Legosi cocked his head. "Why, have something planned?"

"A deer never reveals his secrets."

"...Really? Is that a saying?"

"I will make it a saying."

The wolf lowered his voice. "Uh, do you want to shower tonight or tomorrow? I think it should be big enough for the both of us..."

"Whenever is fine with me." Louis nuzzled him.

Legosi nuzzled back. "I always prefer before bed...makes us soft and fluffy. Although we should probably wear clothes in bed here, in case he walks in."

"Fiiiiiiiine."

Gosha walked back in, wiping his brow of imaginary sweat. "Alright, it should be safe for you in the morning!" He walked back to his arm chair, plopping down.

"Thank you, Gosha-san."