Chapter 76 - A Crime for a Crime

Louis woke up first, despite falling asleep last. He stayed lying as he felt Legosi's arms around him. He felt calm until he remembered the situation.

The light streaming in was dim and white. Although the blinds were always drawn to prevent anyone seeing in, it was very clearly snowing. It was an eerily calming and haunting atmosphere.

Bill was still very awake, but he felt exhausted. He didn't even know what time it was. How long has he been laying here? He guessed about four hours, but that was definitely wrong.

Louis sighed as he thought about recent events. What a way to wake up to reality. He wished he could go back to his dream where he was alone with his wolf.

Both Legosi and Pina filled the room with their snores, not loud enough to be annoying, thankfully. On bad nights the wolf's could cross the threshold, though.

The sheep had climbed his way entirely on top of Bill in his sleep, hugging him completely. His horns proved a bit uncomfortable.

The tiger didn't mind, the rest of Pina felt great against him. He sort of wondered how it would be without clothes. Of course, they couldn't do that here. He began stroking his wool. He had to protect this herbivore. He had controlled it so many times before.

Louis just thought about how everything would be okay. They would catch this killer and everything would be great. Right?

He sat up after a while and Bill looked up. "Morning," the tiger spoke.

The deer rubbed his eye. "Morning. How long have you been awake?"

Bill looked up for a moment. "I don't want to know."

Louis nodded. "Did you get any sleep?"

The tiger shook his head.

"I'm sorry. I had trouble falling asleep myself."

"I just can't stop thinking about everything."

"I know how that is..."

"Yeah..."

"Bill...Don't blame yourself because you're a carnivore. This doesn't rest on the shoulders of all carnivores. It's only one carnivore's fault. When we find out who, we'll get revenge for her."

"By what? Killing them?"

"What? Of course not!"

"I feel like I would..."

Louis sighed. "Bill..."

Pina stirred. He looked so vulnerable, unlike when he was awake.

Bill looked down. "Pina...?"

The sheep breathed out softly. His wool was so messy. Without opening his eyes, he answered; "Morning, Billy."

The tiger exhaled, very tiredly. "Morning..."

Pina moved up to Bill's face, planting a long, soft kiss on his lips.

The feline held his hips. "Sleep well?"

The sheep shrugged. "You're a good mattress. I had to escape from the shitty pullout couch one."

"D'aww, it's not that bad!"

Pina's face went deadpan. "Says the guy who didn't get any sleep."

"I never said that!"

"It's all over your face."

He looked at him with dead eyes. "No!"

Pina cupped the tiger's face in his hands, returning the look with his own sad eyes.

"H-hey...it's okay. I'm fine." He gave a toothy grin. "Eh? See?"

The herbivore countered with a frown. "You don't have to be okay for me. I know you're not okay. I'm not okay, either. And that's...okay?"

"Oh," Louis spoke up. "We're all sad right now. There's no use hiding it."

Pina brought his fist down gently on Bill's chest. "If anything, use it as motivation."

The feline frowned. "I have this strong feeling of wanting to hurt something."

The skinny animal smiled slightly, patting his head lightly. "Yeah, save that for when you might need it."

"I know..."

Louis looked at the ceiling. "Does anyone else feel like never doing anything again?"

Pina rolled off Bill, still clinging to him. "In a sense, I guess."

Legosi, ever the heavy sleeper, snorted in his sleep, pulling himself closer to his mate.

Louis felt the wolf, feeling an overwhelming urge to be alone with him and gush about how much he needed and couldn't go on without him.

"Just a heavy feeling, yeah," Bill said.

Pina broke the silence. "I should probably go get my weapon today while the students are still away."

The tiger blinked, "Weapon?"

"Yeah. Things might get dangerous. You and Legosi have your claws and jaws, but me and Louis need weapons. He's got a gun, apparently?" He looked over at the deer, shaking his head, still in disbelief. "I think I'm gonna swipe a bat from the baseball club's storage shed. Whatcha think?"

"Probably locked. Might have a window though. You never know."

"You're going to break a window?"

"We'll see when we get there. Right Bill?"

"Uh...huh?" The tiger blinked from dozing.

Pina kissed his forehead. "Yeah, maybe you should stay here and rest up today. I'll go by myself."

"No, no, no. I'll come. I have to protect my boyfriend."

"Later. You should try to get some sleep. Anything I can do to help?"

"Let me come with you. Seriously. I'm fine."

Pina giggled. "Not going yet. I might fall back asleep."

"Mm...Okay..."

Louis looked up. "I can go."

The sheep stroked Bill's head more. "Yeah, it could be like a party." He pet his head more, humming a soft tune.

"Party...?" Bill blinked.

"Breaking and entering party! Woo!" Pina lifted the cat's ears up and waved them back and forth.

"Hahaha..."

Pina sighed. His mate was so cute. He was happy he took this chance. Happy that Louis pushed him.

The tiger looked down at him. "Too bad we can't dorm together like Louis and Legosi."

"Yeah, Gon doesn't think we're special enough."

"Come to think of it...He might kick Legosi out."

Pina cocked his head at Bill. "Hm? Why do you think that?"

"Think about it!" Louis spoke up. "Another one of his students was killed by a carnivore. Don't you know how bad it would be for him if they found out he was letting carnivores and herbivores sleep together?"

"Eesh...yeah..."

"I'm dreading that moment."

"Well...the fact that he's even letting you stay here when you're not a student could be called into question too." Pina continued to play with Bill's ears as he spoke.

"Oh god, don't remind me."

Bill nodded. "Yeah, it's a pretty sensitive situation."

Legosi moaned softly in his sleep, somehow pulling the deer even closer.

Louis looked down at him. "Mm?"

Still asleep, Legosi started to lick him.

The deer chuckled. "You dreaming again?"

The licking continued.

Pina poked Bill's nose. "If you licked me like that my wool would get all messy."

"Oh yeah? I'm sure," the cat smiled.

Louis nudged his mate. "Babe."

The licking stopped, followed by a huff of the nose.

Pina peered up. "Hey, didn't you ever hear the saying, 'let sleeping dogs lie'?"

"Yeah, but I'm just hoping he isn't having one of those dreams, considering we have guests."

"Oh ho ho! Wouldn't expect that from Legosi."

"Oh yeah. I'm sure I don't make it better."

Pina looked back down. "I'm surprised Bill isn't like, dying. It's been so long since we did anything."

The tiger dozed off.

"Oh," the dall sheep whispered. He laid back down gently, as to not rouse the gentle giant. "You needed the sound of my voice to fall asleep? You big baby..."

Louis smiled. "Aw..."


It was after lunch that Pina decided it would be the best time to procure the bat. Snow was still steadily coming down, and had accumulated a fair amount.

Bill passed out cold.

Pina looked to Legosi and Louis. "Do either of you wanna come with? I don't wanna wake him..."

"I'll go," Louis said. Time to try and use his friend skills.

"Then I'm going too!" Legosi exclaimed.

The taller herbivore crossed his arms. He's not gonna be happy if he wakes up to an empty room.

"I wouldn't leave you here alone."

"What if someone kills Bill while we're gone."

Pina looked down at him. "Fine." He leaned down and pat Bill's head firmly. "Wakey wakey!"

The tiger just snored louder in response.

Without hesitation the sheep moved to cover Bill's mouth and nose with his hands.

Bill choked and wiggled and then turned on his side.

"I can just lock the door," Louis stated.

"Yeah...but I was kind of looking forward to it. Kind of like our first date." Pina looked at his boyfriend sadly.

"You broke in to somewhere on your first date?"

"I mean, this would be our first date."

"Date breaking into something?"

Pina grinned dreamily. "I know, right? Ideal."

"Well. Try harder if you really want to."

The sheep, now taking it as a challenge, stood up on the bed and fell onto Bill's sleeping form.

The large animal merely grunted.

Pina pounded his fists on him, albeit a bit uselessly.

Legosi stepped forward. "Pina, I think we could just leave him."

Louis nodded. "He'll be fine. He's tired."

"Fine. Let's get dressed and go." Everyone nodded and did so.


Locking the door behind them, they set off, soft snow crunching beneath their feet. Legosi and Louis wore the scarves they had bought months ago.

Louis looked to Pina. "So? What's up?"

Pina gave him a confused side eye. "Uh, about to go steal some school equipment."

"I knew that, but do you have a plan?"

"Try the door. If it's locked, which it will be, try the window. I'm pretty sure there's a window."

"And if that's locked?"

"I'll get one of them open. Trust me," Pina grinned, mischievously.

Louis crossed his arms.

Legosi leaned down to look at the sheep. "Pina...you're...hmm...a lot different than you look."

Pina simply hummed, looking the wolf in the eyes. "Great with words as always, doggie."

"I just mean...with your looks I wouldn't expect all this from you."

He laughed. "Let's just say god made me a herbivore for everyone's protection."

Louis rolled his eyes. "Still wish I was a carnivore."

"Louis..." Legosi sighed.

"Oh. Yeah." He made a face.

Pina laughed. "Can't get your rocks off to carnivores, eh?"

The wolf flinched. "How..."

"Do I know?" Pina rolled his eyes. "It. Is. Obvious!"

"What do you mean?" Louis blinked.

"When I observed him at club, I noticed how he tended to spend more time around the herbivores. And there was the whole thing with you, too."

"That's just because...I'm a really great guy!"

"You are!" Legosi exclaimed, hugging the deer as they walked.

"Wow, you guys are always so gay. I love it," the dall sheep crossed his arms.

Louis blushed. "I never thought I'd be so open."

"Me too," Legosi added.

Pina looked ahead, thoughtful. "I feel like Bill and I do that for each other, too..."

"You two are adorable," the deer claimed.

"I hope we're able to create some memories together...", Pina's tone was wistful, yet melancholic.

"I'm sure you will," Louis stated, matter-of-factly.

The boys walked around the campus, no other animal in sight. The snow muted everything. Eventually, the baseball field appeared, and they made their way to the shed in the back. Of course, the door was locked. They went around to the window. Also locked.

"Well, you never know when animals might be careless." The sheep procured a lockpick from his backpack. "Now I get to show off."

"No way," Louis put a hand on his hip.

"I'm dedicated. Plus you can learn anything on the Internet nowadays." Pina approached the door once again and got to work.

Legosi looked around nervously. "Couldn't you just buy a bat?"

"Pssh, and waste money? Besides this is more fun."

"We could get in trouble," Louis said.

"This whole investigation could get us in trouble, guys." Pina stuck his tongue out in concentration as he fiddled with the lock.

Louis turned to keep lookout. "Just...hurry."

"Who do you think is gonna catch us? I don't think there's anyone even doing security for this school. It's a matter of survival that we even have to do this." Pina's tone turned ranty, jostling the knob now.

"Fine fine, just shut it."

Click. The door opened. Pina smirked at the deer. "Why would I wanna shut it if I just opened it?"

He groaned. "Just...hurry up..."

The sheep entered the shed, and Legosi stood even closer to Louis, practically on top of him.

The cervid looked up to him. "What are you doing?"

Legosi looked at him with intensity. "It's dangerous out here."

"O-okay."

They could hear the sheep moving things inside. Eventually he emerged, shoving a wooden bat into his backpack. "Alright, mission complete."

"Now what?" Louis asked.

"Go back and plan. Unless you wanna try snooping around the dorms. That's probably too risky, though."

Louis looked to Legosi, who had been awfully silent.

The wolf looked back, his brow furrowed.

"Are you okay?" his fiance asked.

Legosi looked at the two of them. "I'm scared for you two. And all the other herbivores."

"You can still talk..."

He looked at him in confusion. "Of course I can."

"But you haven't been."

"What should I say?"

"I don't know. Anything?"

Legosi looked down at his feet. "Sorry."

"It's...It's fine."

Pina pushed past them. "Let's get back and check on Bill."

Louis looked to Legosi one more time before they trekked back.