Chapter 72 - Doggie Sighs and Starry Skies

After cleaning up and lounging a bit, Legosi and Louis threw on their clothes and jackets and headed out. Legosi didn't really have a plan on where to take him, but he figured they could just wander and he'd figure it out along the way.

Louis slipped his hand into his. "I don't care who sees anymore."

The wolf just smiled, the slight wind blowing the soft fur on his face this way and that. He led them down the road. Due to it being a Sunday on the colder side, a lot of animals seemed to opt to stay indoors. It did indeed seem a bit lifeless, down to the leafless trees. They kept walking, toward the more suburban area.

"I finally called Gosha-san grandfather..." Louis commented.

"Yeah! That made him really happy. I could tell."

"I could, too. It feels good. To make people happy."

The canine bumped the deer slightly with his hips. "You make me happy."

"And that feels good."

They walked together through the streets of Legosi's childhood, each bit having its own little story. His tail waved idly as he recounted them.

Louis got closer to him and soon their arms were fully pressed together as he listened to his mate drone on about memories from his younger years.

"I went bug catching in that field over there quite a bit. Jack was a bit afraid of bugs but he'd still go with me."

"Did he live close?"

Legosi pointed ahead of him. "Just up this road, actually."

"Wow...That must have been great for your relationship."

The carnivore smiled fondly. "Yeah. He was my only friend growing up around here."

"But you make friends so easily."

Legosi shrugged. "Not back then. Meeting all the guys in room 701 really helped, though. So did the drama club."

"Really?"

The wolf nodded. "Like grandpa said, I was reserved and kept to myself as a kid. Like Lee."

"Lee..."

"Do you miss him?"

"I worry about him."

"...Yeah."

"Just...He doesn't fit in. I don't know."

"And he's a hybrid on top of that. School is probably going to be rough."

"Mmm, don't remind me."

Legosi pulled him closer. "Sorry."

"No, it's okay. I hope we see him soon," Louis sighed.

"Me too." They continued on, Legosi pointing out Jack's house as they approached.

The deer raised a brow. "That's where he lived?"

They stared at a modest looking house. One might say it was plain, just like Jack, but Legosi would take offense to that. "Yeah. I mean, his family still lives there. He...actually might be in there right now."

"Wait really?"

"I think he's visiting home this year. He usually stayed on campus so I wouldn't be lonely, but this year he wouldn't have any reason to."

"Because you're with me~"

Legosi bumped him again with his hips. "Yep."

Meanwhile, from the house ahead, Jack spotted a familiar looking deer and wolf. Is that?!

The two approached, arms intertwined as they chatted away. Legosi seemed to point at the house.

Jack quickly rushed downstairs and opened the front door peering at the couple. "Legosi? Louis?"

The large animal jumped at the loud noise, but quickly composed himself. "Yeah, see? He's there."

Louis waved. "Hello, Jack-kun."

The dog rushed out to them. "Guys! Hi!"

Legosi held his free arm out to hug Jack as he approached, tail wagging.

The lab hugged his best friend and then stepped back. "What are you two doing here?"

The wolf's ears folded back shyly as he smiled. "Uh, I decided to finally visit grandpa. And have him meet Louis."

Louis nodded. "Yep."

Jack leaned in and sniffed them, then gasped. "You two!"

Legosi blinked. "Um, yea us two...we're both here!"

"No, you know what I mean~"

Legosi sniffed the two of them, and realized the scent he had gotten used to since last night was still on them. He stood stiff.

Jack giggled. "Oooooh~ Legosi~"

Legosi's face erupted in flame, glancing at the flabbergasted Louis.

His mate shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

The canine held a hand to his ear and whispered. "We didn't shower after last night..."

"We didn't..."

Jack smirked. "So you finally did it, huh?"

Louis blinked. "We've done it before."

"H-huh?!"

Legosi cleared his throat. "W-well, y'know. After the dance."

"Oh, yeah! Everyone knew."

The wolf smiled nervously. "So yeah."

"But it smells recent."

Legosi put his finger to Jack's lips to quiet him, despite nobody being around. "Last night, okay? You don't have to be so nosy..."

"Of course I do, Legosi! You're my best friend."

His friend hid behind his deer. "Louis, scold him."

"Jack, it's our business. Come on," Louis crossed his arms.

"I like teasing Legosi," the dog argued.

Legosi pointed an accusing claw at his labrador friend. "How do you know the smell so well, anyway?"

"Hey! Lay off!"

The wolf started to laugh, hoping Louis didn't think they were actually arguing.

The deer leaned in. "Hm?"

Legosi reached out and clapped Jack on the shoulder. He was definitely getting more outgoing, even with him. "So, how are you? How's your family?"

"I'm good! Feels great to be home."

"Sorry. I've kept you from home all these years..."

"No, Legosi. It's okay. Best friends stick together."

Suddenly, a young lab girl came out of the door, a smaller lab boy following behind her. "Jack? Is that Legosi?"

Legosi's ear's perked up. "Oh, Claire!" It was Jack's younger sister. The last time he had seen her she was five years old. The other one with her he had not met. Jack did mention having a baby brother born a few years ago.

"So, this is Claire and Stuart. Legosi, you've met Claire and I've only told you about Sammy."

The wolf crouched down to the little boy, who was probably only 3 years old or so. "Hi!"

Sammy retreated behind Claire's legs. She looked over to Louis. "Hi..."

"Hello. I'm Louis, Legosi's mate," the deer waved.

Claire cocked her head and squinted. "Oh, like?" She put her hands together and intertwined the fingers. "Together?"

"Yes."

Jack put a hand on her head. "They're boyfriends."

"Oh!" She gave Legosi a wry smile. "Didn't expect that, Legosi. A deer, too."

The large carnivore was just speechless that she had grown so much.

Louis shook his head. "We aren't boyfriends."

"Oh...Jack, you fooled me!"

"No! They are!"

Sammy looked up at the older animals, confused as to what was going on.

Legosi finally found his voice. He pointed to himself and then to Louis. "Uh, fiances, actually."

"Woah!" Claire drew back, and then slowly looked at Jack. "So, when are you getting married, Jack?"

"What? I don't have anyone..."

"Yeah, I know. Legosi out of all animals got there before you." Claire playfully punched her brother's shoulder.

The dog pouted. "Hey...Being single is great!"

Louis raised a brow. "Why's that?"

"Well...uh..." Jack looked around. "Um..."

"You could get a boyfriend too, Jack! I won't tell mom and dad, promise." Claire stuck her tongue out slightly.

Jack blinked. "I don't want that!"

Throughout the exchange, Sammy was looking up at Legosi with his big eyes, and Legosi stared back. He crouched back down to look at him.

Claire took notice of this. "Oh! I don't think Sammy has seen a wolf in real life before."

"...Wolf," the puppy's quiet voice was finally heard.

Legosi held his large finger out, his sharp claw on full display. "Hi..."

Sammy took the finger in his hand and waved it about.

Louis laughed, a hand going onto Legosi's shoulder. "Want me to tell you a secret about wolves, Sammy?"

Those big eyes now fixed on the deer. "Wha?"

"They're the best."

"Hey! Specist! Legosi, your boyfriend's a specist!" the young girl laughed.

Sammy just continued to take in Legosi's large form, so similar, yet so unlike his own.

Jack looked to Louis. "I used to be so jealous..."

The deer blinked. "Jealous?"

Legosi smiled as he looked over to his good friend. "I remember that."

The labrador smiled as well. "We were so young, huh?"

"Yeah." Legosi stood back up. "Hey, we should swing by my old school, Louis."

"Wherever you go, I'll follow," Louis grinned..

Jack raised a finger. "Oh! I'll go, too!"

Legosi's ears perked up, as if he didn't consider that a possibility. "Oh yeah!"

Claire scoffed and took Sammy by the hand. "Fine, I'll be the responsible one and watch him while mom and dad are gone." She smiled at Legosi and Louis. "Nice seeing you again, and meeting you." She turned and took her brother into the house.

The trio looked at one another.

Louis looked to Legosi. "Shall we?"

Jack bounced a bit. "It will be so nostalgic to see it again."

Legosi hooked his arm around his lover's and used his other hand to put a hand around Jack's shoulder. "Yeah, it will! And nobody will be there because it's Sunday and a holiday still."

"We can take over the playground," the lab squinted, speaking in a cool tone.

Legosi chuckled. "Yeah, watch out, elementary school. Here we come."

Louis rolled his eyes. "You two."

They departed, Legosi still holding onto the two animals he held dear. Legosi and Jack chatted idly about things that Louis didn't understand as they travelled, but Legosi made sure to point things out to him still.

The deer was appreciative. He stayed relatively quiet so as to let Legosi have real time with his best friend.

The school appeared eventually, looking quite barren under the overcast sky. Since there was nowhere else to go, the three made their way to the playground area.

"It seems like forever ago that we had our fight here," Jack marveled.

Legosi looked around, trying to find the exact spot. "Over there, I think." He pointed at an unremarkable patch of dirt. "Wow, they replaced a lot of the equipment around here."

"They really did, wow."

Louis looked between them. "Fight...?"

Jack turned his head to the large carnivore. "You want to tell him?"

Legosi laughed. "Why me?"

"Because you always make me tell the story of how we met."

"But you're better at it." The wolf puffed his cheeks out. "Fine. I'll tell him, because Louis likes the sound of my voice."

Louis crossed his arms. "That's not a proven fact."

Legosi turned to face him. "What about the times we're talking in bed and you say, 'Your voice is so nice'?"

"Agh..."

Jack shook his head, ears flapping about. "I don't want to know about what you do in bed!"

Legosi squinted at him. "Then why were you so nosy earlier?"

"Cause I like teasing you! But I don't need details!"

"Oh you want details?" Louis smirked.

"NO!"

"Well, if you think about it, we're staying at Gosha's and if we did it yesterday, then that means..."

Jack gasped. "No way. Not at Gosha's!" The dog turned to Legosi. "I didn't give you his number so you could play with a deer in your childhood bed, Legosi!"

The wolf scratched behind his ear. "W-well I didn't plan on doing that! It just sort of happened!"

Louis smirked more. "Besides, he enjoyed it."

"Of course I did!"

Jack pointed. "Sexual deviants! Both of you!"

Legosi cleared his throat, wondering if Jack knew just how much weight those joking words held. "A-anyway, the story."

"Let's go sit on the swings," the lab said, already moving.

Louis gazed at the hanging seats. "Looks a little small..."

Legosi stared down at his large body. "Especially for me..."

"Yeah, nothing hugs his butt but me."

Jack groaned. "Stooop."

Legosi shook his head. "You wanted to come with us." They instead made their way toward one of the newly installed jungle gyms.

"I didn't know this is what you were like now," Jack pouted.

Louis nudged his mate. "No, he's always been like this."

Jack shook his head again. "I should have known the moment I found that porn magazine!"

The deer raised a brow. "Huh? Porn magazine?"

"Jack..." Legosi covered his face. The lab didn't respond, so Legosi removed his hand and faced him. "It wasn't even a porn magazine!"

"What was it then?"

Jack looked at his best friend. "Tell him what I found, Legosi!"

The large animal took a deep breath, started to say something, stopped, clenched his fists, unclenched, and then finally spoke. "It was just a male herbivore underwear catalogue I found in the drama club locker room."

"And you...took it...?"

Jack nodded rigorously. "Tell him about what you bookmarked!"

Legosi looked down at the ground. "...The...page that had a buck model on it."

Louis' eye bulged a little. "A...male deer...?"

The retriever nodded again. "I can only imagine what he did with that magazine..."

"Just looked! It makes sense! This was back when I was still figuring out my feelings for Louis!"

Louis reddened. "And when was that...?"

Legosi looked up at the sky. "Uh, in the spring?"

"That's when we met!"

"We met years ago, Louis."

"That's when we became friends, then."

Legosi nodded. "Yep."

Louis looked at Jack. "He loved me before we were even friends."

"I bet he wondered what was under the underwear too," Jack groaned.

Louis made a face. "I'm sure."

Legosi looked at Jack, deadpan. "You said you didn't want to know about stuff like that."

"Oh, but you would tell Louis~" the lab teased.

The deer shrugged. "He doesn't need to tell me. He knows what's under a deer's underwear."

Jack waved his hands about. "YOU TWO!"

The wolf rolled his eyes. "Make up your mind, Jack." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, the day me and Jack met, he came up to me while I was playing in the sand over there." He pointed over to some trees. Heads turned accordingly.

"I think you asked what I was doing, or something."

"I asked if you wanted to play with everyone else. You always isolated yourself."

Louis nodded. "He still did even when he grew up."

"And then all the other kids wanted us to fight each other, since I'm a wolf and he's a dog. They said I was original and he was artificial, and wanted to see who would win."

"So you fought?!" Louis' eyes boggled.

Legosi searched his head. "Well, I said something that made Jack mad. We were both jealous of each other. He tackled me and then we started fighting."

"Funny. I'm not the only one," Louis mumbled.

His lover looked over to him. "Huh, yeah it was kind of similar. I even told Jack he should stop smiling if he's upset."

"That only made me angrier," Jack laughed.

Louis shook his head. "Jack? Mad? Unheard of."

"That's pretty much what he said before I provoked him." Legosi smiled humorlessly.

"You guys really fought. Wow."

"We've fought other times, but never that badly. Usually we were just playing around, but that first time was a bit serious." Legosi chewed the inside of his cheek. "The teacher got mad at us and told us to make up. After that, we just sort of stuck together." He put a hand on the lab's shoulder. "And I had met my one and only childhood friend."

"Aww..." Louis grinned. "Canines are the best."

Legosi laughed. "Yeah, what other animal would be able to make friends that easily after something like that?"

Louis chuckled. "I guess that makes sense."

Jack looked at the deer. "What was your elementary school like?"

The herbivore froze for a moment.

Legosi froze as well, looking at the expression his fiance was making.

The deer rubbed an arm. "You know...I used to be afraid of talking about my past, but...It's a part of me, so what's the point? I didn't go to elementary school. I was tutored at home and vigorously at that. Every answer had to be right or I had to do the work all over again. I wasn't allowed to make friends."

Legosi just listened, having known or inferred most of this already. It still made him sad, of course. He wrapped an arm around the deer.

"I remember one time I failed a test and my dad bought me...a bike."

Now his lover reacted. "What?"

"He always gave me gifts when he was angry at me."

The lab furrowed his brows. "So you got a bunch of free stuff when your dad was mad at you? Lucky!"

Legosi cleared his throat and looked pointedly at his best friend with a stern look, slowly shaking his head.

Louis frowned. "He was still mad at me."

"And you know what he did to him just a few months ago..." The wolf recalled that whole ordeal.

Jack frowned. "That was less than a gift..."

Louis sighed. "I wonder if I'd still be there..."

Legosi shook his head. "I would always come for you."

His mate blushed. "Even if we weren't close?"

"I would come even if you had hated me."

Jack put his hands on his cheeks. "You twoooo!"

Legosi grinned. "Did you know Jack thought we did it the night I brought you back?"

Louis tilted his head. "Did what?"

"Sex."

"When you brought me back from Oguma's?"

Legosi looked at Jack. "He did."

Jack blushed. "I thought after something like that..."

The deer blinked. "I'm more of a slow moving guy..."

"Who has sex at Legosi's grandpa's house," the retriever pointed out.

"Is sex banned there or something?" Legosi laughed.

"It's your grandfather's house!"

"Love is allowed there!"

"But making love!"

Legosi pouted and looked away.

Jack crossed his arms. "Oh, come on, Legosi!"

"It's okay, Jack-kun just wants to spoil our fun," Louis observed.

The wolf took the quiet moment to look around more. It really did look different, and even if all the playground equipment was the same when they were kids, it would seem a lot smaller.

Jack raised a brow. "Spoil your fun? More like save your poor grandpa."

Legosi waved a hand. "He didn't even know. Stop obsessing over it."

"What if he did, though!"

The bigger animal blushed. "Well, he didn't."

Louis tapped his chin, thoughfully. "Though...He did ask about my bite marks?"

Jack's ears perked.

"O-oh! He saw it?" Legosi's fur bristled. "Gah! Don't tell Jack about that!"

The lab crossed his arms. "Don't tell Jack about what? Bite marks?"

Legosi held his head, sighing loudly.

"You knew it was going to be like this when you got a mate!" Jack argued.

"NO I DIDN'T!"

"HOW?"

"I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE ONE!"

"WHAT?"

Louis looked back and forth each time one animal spoke.

Legosi huffed. "We should probably stop yelling."

The deer blinked. "You never though you'd find love?"

His partner shrugged. "I just never thought about it, period."

Jack looked smug. "Lies."

Legosi rolled his head to look at him. "What."

"Prove it."

"How!"

"Can't. Because I never thought about it."

"No way. I don't believe it." Louis shook his head.

Legosi now faced the deer. "Well, you never really thought about it, either. But that's because it was decided for you."

"I have an excuse. I already had a fiance and everything."

"I still have to meet fiance number one."

Jack's mouth fell open. "Two fiances before adulthood!"

Legosi hugged Louis. "I'm the one that's sticking, though."

The deer kissed him.

Jack sighed. "I officially need new friends."

"I actually have to get back to watching Sam and Claire. I'll see you back at school, though!"

"Ah, okay. We'll walk you back."

They walked Jack back to his home and said their goodbyes. Louis laughed after the door closed.

"What's up?" Legosi nuzzled his cheek.

"He just wanted to be away from us."

"You think?"

"Guess he couldn't handle my love for you."

The wolf sighed. "He was acting pretty weird. I hope everything's okay."

"Maybe he's jealous."

Legosi nodded. "That could be it. We used to do everything together. Like, all the time."

"I'm sorry...I am not trying to pull you away from anyone. Maybe I should let up."

The wolf put a hand on his shoulder, turning them around and walking away from the house. "I don't think that's necessary. I mean, animals get married all the time and still keep their friends."

"But I can!"

"But I'll be sad if you let up...I want all of your love..."

"Just a little!"

Legosi smiled and brought him closer as they walked. "Well, I guess we can continue our walk now."

"Where should we go from here?"

"Let's just keep going down the road."

Later that night, after dinner, the two headed outside to the adjacent grassy field with an old, thick blanket Gosha had in the closet.

"Good thing it hasn't snowed, huh?" Legosi asked as they approached their destination.

"Yeah, just hate that it always has to be so cold..." Louis hugged himself.

"It'll be better when we're in the blanket."

"Better be careful, you remember what happened last time we were under a blanket."

Legosi squinted. "We're outside."

"Okay, okay. I was joking."

They set the blanket on the ground. Thankfully, the thing was huge, and covered the ground with enough blanket to still wrap around themselves.

"I'm so excited...I almost don't want to look up and ruin it somehow," Louis said.

The wolf laughed softly, pulling the blanket around them and putting his arms around the smaller animal. "It's nothing that special, really. I still want to take you to a place where the sky is even clearer."

"I can't stop thinking about the design of the dance..."

Legosi kissed him. "Ready to look up?"

"Should we count down or just do it?"

"I'm looking at it right now. I guess you can't see because you're not good with night vision."

"I'm not even looking up yet!"

"Whenever you're ready." Legosi snuggled into him more, radiating his warmth through the deer.

Louis moved his head to look up into the dark blue sky.

Legosi looked up with him. "Well, there it is. A few dozen stars."

His lover's eye gained a shine as he sighed. "Wow..."

"Uh, there's some constellations you can see."

"Want to point them out to me?"

Legosi rested his head on his shoulder. "Well, we can only really see, uh, that one." He pointed. "Big Dipper. Everyone knows that one. Did you know it's also supposed to be a bear? Looks nothing like a bear. Riz would probably be insulted."

"Haha. He doesn't talk as much as he used to. I wonder what happened."

"He and Tem used to talk a lot. Think it hit him pretty hard." Legosi quickly pointed elsewhere to change the subject. "That one is supposed to be a swan. I can kind of see it, right?"

"Yeah. I feel a little bad..."

"Hm?"

"I haven't visited Tem's grave as much as I should be..."

"We can go when we get back."

"Doesn't it make you sad?"

Legosi breathed out slowly. "Yeah..."

"Maybe I should go alone..." He traced fake constellations with his eye.

"Why? I want to go too."

"I don't want you feeling sad..."

Legosi stared out at the infinite expanse. "We're all...just so small. The stars don't care when we die. Every time I remember Tem...whenever I feel sad about him...it just means that I care. It means that animals cared about him. He lives on like that..."

"That's really insightful, Legosi..."

"I think about things like that a lot. Especially...in moments like this."

"It is pretty inspiring. We're only a speck in the universe. Eventually, it will be like we never existed in the first place."

Legosi smiled. "But that's okay."

"I don't want to say what I'm thinking right now."

Legosi stayed silent. He rubbed his cheek into Louis further, while the deer thanked whatever forces above that kept him from pushing. He cuddled up to him more. "Mmm, warm."

"Better than the cold before."

"You're so good at warming this lukewarm-blooded wolf."

"Lukewarm?"

"Lizard blood. Right? Get it?"

"SHEESH."

"Whaaaat?"

"You're ridiculous," he nudged.

Legosi laughed. "It's true, though. Like grandpa said, I get cold pretty easily."

"You are always clinging to me at night. I knew it wasn't just for comfort."

The wolf hummed in thought. "Maybe half that, half comfort."

"You're so...Everything..."

"I remember when you told me I scared you because I was so unpredictable."

"You did."

"We were so confused, then. It's weird to think it was only a few months ago."

"It really feels like years..."

"Guess that makes our engagement not seem so rushed, huh."

"Yes."

Legosi sunk even deeper into his fiance. "What do you think we'll do after I graduate? Because we have to find a place."

"We do. Unless you want to live separately for financial reasons. I won't have money forever."

"...Isn't it cheaper to live together?"

"Is it?"

"If we're both making money."

"I definitely need to get a job."

"Yeah. We have to start paying back the cafeteria."

"Eugh...I forgot about that."

"Well, do real chefs pay for their ingredients?"

"They get them shipped to the store."

"...You know, we could probably live with Gosha for a bit, if we have to," Legosi suggested.

"Oh, really? You think he'd let us?"

"Probably. Just saying like, if we have no other choice. Emergency."

"I'll find somewhere."

They laid in silence for about a minute. "Do you think Lee's mom will actually call ever?"

"I hope so. I miss him, which I find strange," Louis sighed.

"I wonder how he'll be as he grows up."

"I'm worried. I don't want him to change."

"Well, all animals change as they get older."

"I know..."

Another minute of silence. "Uh...thanks for coming here with me. I know I already thanked you before, but I wanted to say it again." Legosi's ear flicked. "And thanks for, uh, loving me, I guess? Treating me all nice."

"You don't need to thank me. I don't do it for you. Love, that is," Louis smiled. "Treating you nicely, that's for you."

"Do you think I treat you nicely, too?" Legosi looked up, bumping noses.

"I don't deserve 90% of what you give me."

"Of course you do."

"No...not at all."

"Louis, you've been through so much. More than any animal should possibly have to go through. I'm just trying to make everything better for you...and you deserve it."

"I know and I know I don't need anything else..."

"Well, if I want to give you other things, will you take them still?"

"What other things?"

Legosi laughed softly. "I don't know. We have the...rest of our lives together, right? Hopefully. There'll be other things."

"Many other things..."

THe wolf laid back again with the animal he loved. Would they have the rest of their lives together? Even if they weren't a danger to each other, probably, society was still dangerous. That was why moments like this were incredibly important. He wrapped his body around Louis' smaller frame, holding him close like he could be swept away.

The deer sighed. "I just never imagined I could have this. Under the starlit sky with a lover? It was never the life for me."

"Well, that's just how it played out."

"I know..."

"Earlier, with Jack. I was really telling the truth. I never thought about something like this. I just thought it applied to everyone else."

"But never yourself?"

"Never."

"Wow...But you're so romantic!"

Legosi blinked. "I am?"

"Oh more than that!"

"I guess I'll just have to believe you."