"Fuck."
Another drop of blood flecked the ground. While not deep, the wound was still bleeding, despite Louis's efforts to stop it with his hand. He wasn't thinking back at Kopi Luwak. He let rage consume him, and although he didn't regret his actions, he did regret not getting patched up there.
The herbivore looked around carefully. His blood had attracted attention, that was for sure. Mistake number two was heading into the back alley market without a clear idea of where the Shishigumi or Legosi had gone. He tried calling the wolf, but it went to voicemail each time.
Louis maintained a confident stride, telling the carnivores around him he wasn't dying, and had no intention to. He gathered his thoughts once more.
Legosi had pushed the Shishigumi out of the room. Was he the one that lead them, then? Where would Legosi take them? Or had the Shishigumi taken Legosi somewhere? He grabbed his shoulder tighter, considering the two possibilities. It seemed more likely in his mind that the lions probably took control of the situation after they left.
Louis looked down the street, now lit up by the morning sun. The meat stalls were that way. He knew it'd be too risky to go there in his current state. Besides, that would be the last place they would want to go in their meat hungry state. Right?
Before Louis could be worried by the implication of that thought, he felt a hand on his uninjured shoulder. He whipped around, coming face to face with a large wolf. His heart skipped, but then sank. Not his wolf.
"You okay, sir? Do you need me to take you somewhere?" The stranger wolf's tongue flicked out momentarily, and his voice was transparent. Louis might have laughed if he wasn't so terrified. This animal looked so much like Legosi, and yet was so unlike him.
"I don't need your help.", the words came out quickly, and Louis turned and walked off, more blood dropping from his shoulder in the process. The wolf followed.
"You're hurt. You need help." Words delivered without a hint of sympathy. Louis instinctively reached for his gun, only to remember what happened to it. Third mistake.
A clawed hand grabbed his wrist, and he squeezed his eyes shut. Another hand was placed on his shoulder. This was it.
Wait, the second hand seemed bigger.
Louis opened his eyes, looking up into the scarred face of an old panda. The wolf's hand retreated from his wrist.
"I appreciate the concern, sir. I'm a doctor. I can take care of him from here." The bear's voice was deep and raspy, and his breath reeked of cigarettes.
"A-ah, y-yes, sir." Louis heard the carnivore run off, eyes not leaving the panda, who wrapped a large, protective arm around him as they walked.
"You shouldn't be here. Even dressed like that, some animals might recognize you.", the doctor kept his tone low, looking straight ahead.
Louis's brow furrowed. "I know, but it's more complicated than that."
The larger animal just huffed. They spent the rest of the trip in silence, and a few minutes later they came upon a clinic.
He unlocked the door and lead them in, moving into a living room and sitting Louis down on one of the couches. The panda moved out of the room, returning some seconds later with a first aid kit. "Can you take your shirt off?"
Louis complied, unbuttoning it. He winced a bit as he moved his arm up to rid it of the sleeve. He left the other sleeve on
The panda pulled up a chair, getting right to work cleaning and disinfecting. He scrutinized the wounds. "These...you were bitten?"
Louis nodded.
"Canine teeth. Not the wolf on the street, I gather."
"No." Louis reached into his pocket and procured the dentures, the blood on them now dried.
The panda's single eye widened in surprise and recognition. "No..."
Louis looked up at him. "Gouhin, right?"
"...correct."
"Legosi has mentioned you. Don't worry, he only bit me under the effects of Kopi Luwak, and even then he resisted in the end." He smiled fondly as his chest ached.
"Kopi Luwak...what were you two doing there?" Gouhin continued to dress the wound.
"We were there with the Shishigumi, trying to gather intel on hybrids."
If he had been drinking, Gouhin would have done a spit take. "You're thinking of taking down Melon? Do you want to lead them again? What's Legosi have to do with it?"
Louis leaned his head back, his antlers resting on top of the cushion. "It's not about reclaiming my spot. He's hurting animals. He's hurt my friends." He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "He's hurt Legosi."
"What has he done to Legosi?" Gouhin was wrapping him up now.
Louis sat up. "You don't know?"
"Haven't heard from the kid since I made him those dentures."
He could see the concern in Gouhin's otherwise stoic face. Yet another animal Legosi had formed a deep bond with. "Melon shot him. Legosi almost...he...", Louis shuddered at the memory. "It was bad. I'm surprised he didn't come see you after he recovered."
Gouhin's face turned serious. "What's he got to do with Melon?"
"Yafya wants Legosi to help capture him."
The panda's serious face twisted into anger. "What? What's he still doing around that guy?"
Louis let out a breath from his mouth as Gouhin finished treating his wound. "My thoughts exactly. But Legosi feels like it's his obligation to catch him now. You probably know how he is. Stubborn to a fault."
Gouhin leaned back, nodding slowly as he looked over his handiwork. "You know, when Legosi told me about how he ate the leg of his deer friend in order to win a fight, I never expected it'd be the former leader of the Shishigumi. Guess it's a damn small world. Now I know why you disappeared and Melon took over."
Louis grunted his response, slipping his shirt back on. He noted how strange it was talking to this animal he'd never met before like they were already acquaintances. It was good to know he was an ally, at least.
Louis jumped as his phone rang. He retrieved it, and upon seeing the caller was Legosi, uttered a loud, "Shit!" He fumbled but eventually answered the call. "Legosi?" Gouhin shifted next to him, trying to get closer without giving it away.
A pause on the other end. "No, it's Agata. Legosi fell asleep, so I used his phone to call you. He refused to pick up when you called."
Louis nodded, air passing steadily between the small opening he left in his lips. "Alright. Thank you, Agata." He stood up, beginning to pace around the room. "Where are you guys?"
"Back at the bar. We're drinking to get our meat hunger back down. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I found a doctor to patch me up."
"I found you...", he heard Gouhin mutter under his breath.
Louis continued. "Also the meat hunger was due to the Kopi Luwak. Deshico neglected to tell us."
"Fuck that little prick!" A voice could be heard in the distance. Louis couldn't determine the owner, but he had a hunch it was Free. Agata sighed before he spoke again.
"Yeah, we all kind of deduced that. The beer is working well. Legosi was a bit of a wreck, though."
Louis allowed a smirk to spread across his face. "Yeah, he's like that when drunk."
"Actually, he's been a wreck the whole time, even before the beer. You should come see him."
"That's the plan. Thank you, Agata. I'm heading there now."
"Stay safe, Louis."
He ended the call before he began to button up his shirt. "I'm heading out. Thanks for patching me up, Gouhin-san."
"Ey? Where the fuck do you think you're goin?"
Louis blinked. "What?"
"You still have dried blood all over your shirt."
"Ah..." The deer was a bit ashamed at how quickly he forgot that detail.
"I still have some of my wife's clothes laying around. Let me look." The large bear turned around, stopping to look back at Louis before he left. "Drop that old shirt over there in that bin. Don't want any animals catching the scent."
Louis looked over, spying what looked like a small metal trashcan with the bio-hazard symbol on it. He walked over and opened the lid, dropping it in. He stood there shirtless, shivering a bit as he waited for Gouhin to return.
Despite that discomfort, Louis felt a bit of relief flow through him. Legosi and the Shishigumi were alright, and he knew how much of a dampener alcohol had on meat hunger. It was the unfortunate reason many alcoholics were carnivores, but at least in this case it was beneficial. He hoped a drink and a nap would get Legosi back to his usual self, or at least close to it. He could see how last night and this morning might scar the wolf, and foresaw many more nightly visits from Legosi to his dorm. It distracted him from his school work, but at that point Louis did not care an ounce about school. He assumed the email Oguma had sent him a few days ago that lacked a subject line probably pertained to that, as well as the date with Azuki. He'd work up the courage to read it later.
"Here." A gruff voice snapped Louis out of his thoughts. A purple piece of cloth was now in his arms. It was a lady's button up shirt with a white floral pattern. Gouhin looked at it in an apologetic way. "It's the best I could find."
"It's fine. Thank you." It actually looked quite pretty. The only thing Louis disliked about it was its similarity to the shirt Melon had been wearing. And the size, he found out when he put it on. After buttoning it up he tucked it into his pants and rolled up the sleeves, making for an interesting fashion statement. Gouhin mouth wrinkled at the lips.
"I'll return this shirt when I can. For now, I need to go see Legosi. Thanks again."
"Wait."
Louis was out of the room when he heard Gouhin speak. He turned around.
"Here." Gouhin handed him a slip of paper with a number on it. "If you and Legosi ever run into more trouble, call the clinic number. He never uses it but I know you would have the sense to do so."
Louis took the slip, depositing it carefully into his pocket. "I will."
Gouhin coughed into his shoulder. "And tell the little shit to visit sometime."
"Got it!" Louis held back a laugh as he left, marching confidently back to the bar.
…
The bar Louis had been at just a handful of hours ago popped up again, looking a bit dingy now in the morning light. He entered slowly, and the place was seemingly empty, although he could hear some noises from the kitchen. He stopped by the bathroom to wash off Legosi's teeth before heading to the room they had used last night. Louis opened the door after a curt knock, and sure enough, the Shishigumi were in there, all eyes on him. He quickly spied Legosi, who had fallen asleep leaning against Hino, who's face remained neutral as always. Legosi looked so peaceful it made Louis's heart hurt.
"Nice shirt, Boss." Free broke the silence, and grunts of acknowledgment rippled throughout the table, despite him meaning it as a joke.
"Thanks." Louis approached, feeling the tipsy atmosphere of the room. None of them were staring at him in hunger or fear any more, putting him more at ease. "You all must be really tired."
"Same goes for you.', Dolph pointed out.
"I know."
Louis slid past Free, Dope, and Miguel to place himself next to his boyfriend. Drool dribbled from his mouth, free from the dam his teeth usually provided. All of the lions grew silent as they observed their former boss attempt to rouse Legosi from his sleep.
"Hey..." Louis nudged him. Legosi smacked his lips. Louis pulled on his ear. Legosi flicked it away. Louis moved a little lower, giving the base of his right ear rapid scritches. The wolf huffed, moving off of Hino and onto Louis, much to the deer's delight. Muffled 'awws' spread across the table.
Now leaning totally on Louis's chest, Legosi fluttered his eyes open slowly. Louis smiled at him, and Legosi smiled back, hugging him closer. The wolf smacked his lips again, then ran his tongue around his mouth. His eyes went wide as he pushed himself roughly away from Louis, staring at him in terror.
"Y-y-youph, Louis, I...I...you neeb to leab!", Legosi managed to get out between panicked breaths.
Louis held his hands up. "Woah, it's okay, Legosi. I promise."
Legosi's eyes frantically darted around the table. "Y-you'll geph eaphen!"
Louis furrowed his brow. "No, I won't. The coffee you guys drank stimulated your appetite, and the alcohol got it back to normal. None of you are going to eat me." He reached into his pocket and procured the now clean dentures. "Here, put these in so I can understand you."
Legosi shook his head firmly, and Louis sighed.
"Please."
Another shake of the head. Louis opted to place them on the table instead. Legosi stared at them, fixating on the one fang that was now broken.
Louis rubbed his eyes, now feeling just how tired he was. He yawned, the tears bending the lights in the room in his sight. "Legosi...I have to go back to my dorm. Are you going to be okay?"
Legosi continued to look down at his teeth.
"I'll take him home, Boss." Free was the first lion to finally speak. "You get home and go to bed."
"Yeah." Louis shifted his large, borrowed shirt. "I need another gun, though."
"Seriously? What happened to the one we gave you before we went to Kopi Luwak?", Free asked in exasperation.
"A bat nabbed it before I could put a round through that asshole's head."
"Sheesh."
"Here, Louis." Agata slid his across the table, which Louis took and put into his holster.
"Thank you." He turned to the silent wolf. "Legosi, Free is going to take you back home, okay? I'm heading back. Message me when you're back, alright?"
Legosi continued to sulk. Louis moved closer, only for the wolf to shift away.
"Legosi!" Louis got closer, and Legosi retreated further. He eventually got his hands on his large body, attempting to wrap around it. "Let. Me. Hug. You!"
Eventually, Louis won, embracing his boyfriend tightly, nose buried deep in the side of his neck. A deep whine emanated from the wolf's throat.
"Legosi, I'm not mad at you. Not even remotely. I love you, and that's not going to change." Louis pulled away, feeling his heart drop when Legosi still didn't look at him. He slid out of his seat, passing by the lions to stand up again. "I'm going now, okay? Remember what I said." Louis walked to the door, eyes not leaving the table. The lions all looked at him with a melancholic smile, to which he responded with a sort of wave/salute. "It was really nice seeing you guys again. And this won't be the last time. We're going to find a way to stop Melon."
The lions all nodded, tails waving behind them idly. Louis smiled as he pushed through the door, his face feeling warm.
…
The trip home had barely registered in Louis's mind. All he remembered was taking his shoes off and collapsing onto his bed. When he opened his eyes again, it was dark outside. He grumbled, reaching for his phone. It had been quite a few hours, and he saw that he had received a call while he slumbered. He frowned when he saw it was from Juno, who also left a message. It was about an hour ago. He opened up his voicemail and turned on the speaker.
"You have...ONE...unheard message. First unheard message."
Juno's voice played through the speaker, steady but with a twinge of concern.
"Hey, Louis? Can you call me back when you get this message? I've been trying to call Legosi, but he hasn't been picking up. You know how he is. Anyway, please call back. We need to talk."
A pause.
"Something happened with Haru."
