"Oi, are you all pitting me?"
"W-what? N-no, no. We are just-
"Why would we pity the guy who ran onstage with a broken leg for hours? That must've hurt like a bitch."
"Durham!"
"What? I'm being honest here. Besides, deer boy should be thankful he didn't made the injury far worse. It was admirable dedication from his part I admit. I would even take out my hat for you if I had one, but that still doesn't make it any less stupid or irresponsible anyways. Be thankful your fracture didn't severe an artery."
"He's... got a point."
"Why I'm not surprised?"
"Of course he is."
"Durham, why you even here?"
The coyote who was currently leaning on the wall opposed to the bed where Louis was currently laying on, surrounded by few other stage and crew members, merely shrugged off the question. His eyes searched for Juno in hopes that she could offer some response to that matter.
The female wolf took her time to respond to his visual request. Her eyes had been glued on Legosi for the majority of the time they've been on the medical wing. The coyote couldn't really blame her for being so enamored, but he hoped she would listen to his advice and dig up a bit more about who is Legosi. Durham faked a cough to gather her attention.
"Oh, huh, I kinda brought him with me here since we were watching the play from the stands. I didn't expect to find Louis laying on the floor unconscious surrounded by everyone else." Juno replied, blinking after breaking eye contact with her main focus of attention.
If Legosi ever noticed the intense staring from Juno coming his way he didn't react or acknowledged it in any shape or form. Durham couldn't decide whether to be upset or pity the male gray wolf. He was either dense or ignoring Juno on purpose.
"Well. The important thing is that everything was under control regardless of the incident." Commented Tao, something that earned him a look of disbelief from Shiira.
Durham huffed. Everyone was panicking behind the curtains until Shiira shouted for everyone to shut the hell up and take Louis to the medical wing immediately. Unsurprisingly Ellen was the one to carry the wounded deer alongside Dom to the wing. Something about that implied that Louis wouldn't have liked to be carried by a Carnivore to the sick bay. The gazelle nurse who was on shift that night immediately accommodated the deer while she phoned for the Academy's assigned doctor to pass by for an emergency occurrence.
Twenty minutes of long waiting went by, all members were requested to stay outside of the bays until the deer was properly treated. Durham stayed quiet the whole time, looking at the other students on the corridor with him, each of them finding their own way to distract themselves from anxiety or boredom. No one dared to speak about Louis condition, for what reason he did not know. It surprised him they were this composed despite the little panic show from earlier.
He's been there with them for nearly an hour, now that Louis was cleared for visits they were throwing questions about his presence? The nerve.
"Fine by me, why you even care about it? Durham's been sticking with us for days, get used to it." Ellen immediately chided the other members. Most of them raised their eyebrows at her heated response, especially the Carnivores. Not one of them ever saw Ellen side with a Carnivore before.
"The play." Louis said, ignoring the recent conversation about the coyote. Something about Durham was very confusing for Louis and while he wanted to understand what the coyote was aiming at by being at their side constantly he had other worries in mind. "Did anyone see me fall?"
"Huh, no." Said Aoba, a rather tall and imposing male eagle who seemed to be serious most of the time. "The curtain fell completely before you did."
Louis nodded, internally relieved that he was able to perform flawlessly despite the horrible challenge he had to face through. Now his mind was into settling immediate matters.
"I've been informed I won't be able to walk on my leg until after two weeks if no further complications happen. Still, the next part of the play happens in few days. Someone will have to replace me for Adler. The options for that are thin since most of you are incapable of perform such grandiose."
"Jackass."
"Durham!"
"Nothing saying anything but the truth."
"Nothing? You mean 'Not'?"
"Eh, it rhymes."
"Do you want to join Louis by being on the nearest bed with fractures too? Be quiet!"
"Make me."
Ellen gaped at his bold challenge. This was really unusual to hear from the coyote, she had a strange feeling he was showing a new side of him she hasn't seen before. Durham was still leaning on the wall, looking impassive as always, but something on his voice betrayed that blank expression.
"It will take me more than some broken bones to willingly spend time near deer boy."
All the other members watched the exchange with mixed reactions. Shiira and Els were giggling at their bickering. Legosi was thoroughly taken aback by Durham's behavior, he never had seen or heard the coyote talk like that before nor he imagined Durham to dismiss Louis upperclassmen status so openly. Bill was amazed at how Ellen threatened to break a Carnivore's bones. Tao and Aoba exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to think of the situation. Dom and Kai were chuckling at the scene, both had been entertaining the idea that the zebra and coyote were going out. Juno only smiled awkwardly at the scene, she wasn't really on taking anyone sides for now.
"Are you all done spatting your nonsense?" Louis asked imperiously.
"I don't know. Are you done being a pompous prick?" Durham asked back with a smirk. The deer felt an eye twitch. The coyote was really keen on getting on his nerves and Louis hated to feel that he was falling for that gradually. Legosi approached his roommate with worry.
"Durham, you shouldn't say things like that to Louis-senpai. He's-
"Arrogant and has no friends?" The coyote guessed. It must've been his imagination but he could've sworn he saw the deer squirm for a second. 'Talk about nailing the... crap, I forgot the name of the thing you nail.'
Legosi looked absolutely affronted by the coyote's reply.
"That's not true! We are his friends." The wolf immediately replied. A rather awkward silence followed this words, which implied that not everyone in the sick bay seemed to share that idea. Legosi glanced around, realizing that he was standing alone on his own argument. "I-I don't understand. Louis-senpai is-
"Not your friend. Nor the friend of anyone else in this room. That much is true." Came the reply from no other but the deer himself. He sighed heavily before leaning his head back onto the pillow. "I understand one would think friendship to the equally acquired by the time spent on the presence of the current members. Yet, I did not came here to make friends, but rather to be a Beastar."
"Gez, what a killjoy. Do you even hear yourself talk? If I had to be honest, I would much rather see Juno being a Beastar than you. At least she makes an effort to like someone."
Juno had a very noticeable blush on her cheeks. She smiled gratefully towards the coyote who nodded at her.
Louis rolled his eyes, something that it was unusual for anyone to witness. The deer had always brought himself to be as much respectful to others, no matter who they were. Durham managed to break Louis from his formality bubble, dragging him to wild waters of social engagement.
"Juno? Beastar? Perhaps you would do well to visit a psychiatrist." He replied, glowering towards the coyote. Juno's smile evaporated in the blink of an eye. Both Ellen and Shiira scoffed at him. "Why should I even expect someone like you would understand the struggles and needs of our society?"
Ellen froze. Her eyes searched for the coyote, desperate to find a calm and passive animal instead of a wild beast she feared that could arise from such willfully ignorant speech. She also noticed that Juno was looking a bit scary, her eyes narrowed at the deer with a pensive expression, she was scratching the area under her muzzle with a rather pointy claw. It was quite concerning to see such change of mood on the gray wolf.
Durham slowly stood upright, keeping both his hands inside his pockets, a strange smile on his face as he contemplated how to respond to such poorly chosen words.
"Well, we all have to aim at something I suppose. Just don't expect me to feel sorry for you the day you're walking down the streets alone and some huge predator jumps on you. You know what happens then? Nothing. Your death would just be another statistic and our dear society would just await eagerly for the next Beastar. So, who's really going to care about Louis then? Let me know how being a Beastar will ever change our fucked up society. Go on, go have fun being whatever and pretending you can actually make any change whatsoever. Like Carnivores would listen willingly to an Herbivore. Strange coincidence that almost every Beastar has been an Herbivore."
Durham walked away without looking back, leaving behind him far more uncertainty than when they arrived.
The coyote walked towards the exit, finding himself outside on a rather chill night. The whole campus was silent despite the clear presence of activity coming from the several windows of the buildings nearby. Only very few night lamps gave the grounds below any source of visibility. Something that was made on purpose to discourage students from leaving their rooms on the evening.
'Why can't he even try to see the bigger picture? Deluded, that's what he is.'
"Durham, wait!"
The coyote's ears perked despite the fact they were always erect. He turned around and stared expectantly at a panting zebra.
"Oh... wow... I... really need... to go back jogging." She said in between sharp pauses. This picked the coyote's interest.
"You could join me and the other members. We do it often early in the morning, that if you're an early riser. We actually have a couple Herbivores in the club this semester. One of them is kinda obsessed with it. She says all the time the more she does it, the better her product quality will go, whatever that means."
"Wait, what?! Why haven't you told me before?!" Asked an undignified Ellen. Durham shrugged.
"You didn't ask." He replied with a cheeky grin. 'Eh, there goes another punch to the collection.'
"Are you done being a smartass?" Ellen asked while massaging her fingers. "Damn, you are way more resilient than you look."
Durham gave her an humored grin in return.
"Are you implying that I'm a scrawny coyote?" Ellen shrugged apologetically.
"Well, you're not as big and strong like Bill or Legosi, but..."
"Buuuuut?"
"Huh, you're... kinda... nice to look at." She said while looking away in embarrassment.
Durham did a double take. Did she just complimented his physical appearance?
'Okay? What she's trying to get at with this conversation?'
"Ellen, why you came after me? What do you want?"
The zebra frowned. She seemed awfully hesitant about talking on whatever was bothering her. Durham was starting to understand that, despite their conversation from days ago, the zebra would still struggle to reveal her more inner turmoils.
"It's just... it's quite late now and it's... dark."
Durham stared, puzzled about what she is trying to get at. She shook her head once she noticed how clueless he was.
"Look, can we keep this between us? I really don't like saying this to anyone." She asked pleadingly, something that had Durham surprised and worried.
"Sure, what is it?" He asked expectantly. Ellen glanced at the sides to make sure they were all by themselves, at that moment the coyote finally took notice of how anxious she looked.
"I wanted to go back to the dorms, but Els is going back with Dom only later on. I can't really go by myself due the safety measurements and all of that. I, huh, also have a... well, I don't really feel okay in the darkness."
Durham blinked, slowly processing what he just heard as the zebra nearly squirmed whatever she didn't want to say.
"You... are afraid of the dark?"
If the drop of her ears wasn't enough of an answer he didn't know what it was.
"Yeah, it's ridiculous. I know. I just d-
"No, it's an honest and logical reason to fear. I myself don't really like dark places, they make me remind of things I don't really want to."
What self-respecting Herbivore wouldn't be afraid of the dark? Even Carnivores didn't like being out for too long. Darkness was a predator's strongest ally. Herbivores were hopeless in dark environment due the lack of night vision eyesight. Most Carnivores could adapt to darkness just fine, an ability that has been in their DNA for eons. Ellen was a strong and fierce animal, but fighting and enemy while blind was not gonna do her any good.
"Ahn, I guess I should take you back to your dorm then?I don't feel like leaving you waiting for your friends anyways."
She nodded, looking partially relieved and thankful. Much to Durham's shock she grabbed his hand with her own.
"Then let's hurry up. I don't want to be out here for too long." She said as she almost dragged him towards the Herbivore building. The coyote couldn't help the dumb smile on his face at finally being able to hold her hand.
'Strong, yet so warm and soft. Just as expected. I wish we could stay like this for much longer.'
"I'm really glad I'm your friend right now. At least some Carnivores still aim to be better themselves. Although some way more than others." Ellen said much to Durham's internal happiness. "Louis really needs to get his head together. What he said back there was so fucking stupid. What that moron knows about our problems? And the way he dismissed Juno?! What a bastard! That's what he is! Not a Beastar, a bastard!"
"Calm down Stripes. It's not healthy to get so angry. Although I do not disagree, just surprised to see you curse this much." Durham chuckled at her raging. "I wish other girls were more like you. Talk jerks down for what they are. If we are being jerks we need to be called out."
"Pfff, like most of them would care. It's all the same. Girls are treated lesser most of the time, cause females are an accomplishment for most of these fuckers. The hell with them."
Durham was loving each second of this conversation. He was thankful for Ellen being here to lift off his spirits after Louis attitude, even if unsurprising, was really disappointing.
"I just can't believe I wanted to even have anything to do with him! I was so foolish to think he cared. We are both Herbivores with similar personalities-
"Kinda."
"Whatever! I meant we don't back out from talking with a Carnivore!"
"True." 'Which is what I love in you the most.'
"I agree with what you said. I rather see Juno getting to be a Beastar. I just don't think her mind is into it that much."
"Probably because she's too busy thinking about Legosi." Durham suggested with a humored grin.
"Fuck, that's getting so cringy to look at. Either she just says it or I will just kick her butt to make her talk. It irritates me to talk with her and see her staring dreamingly behind my back because Legosi is somewhere around."
"I don't think we need to send Juno to the hospital just yet."
"Fuck you too!" Ellen replied as they both laughed right after.
They kept walking quietly after she ran off of steam to keep her curses in regards to her club colleagues. Durham enjoyed the walk as much as he could, Ellen being really close at his side as the walked near every post lamp in their way back to their respective dorms. The coyote was aware that he would go along with her only until they arrived at the Herbivores building entrance since Carnivores weren't really allowed in that building.
Deciding to be a bit more daring and test the waters the coyote slowly dragged his thumb across the back of her hand on a caressing gesture. As expect she reacted to it, but what he did not expect was for her to go stiffen for a moment then quickly resume their walking as if nothing happened. He threw a sideways glace at her to spot a tiny smile on her muzzle. Durham could've sworn his heart started beating a lot faster upon that discovery.
"Say, Durham. Why did you join the Sports PE? Any particular reason?" Ellen asked distractedly.
"Oh, yeah. I want to make a career as a race driver. What about you? Anything in mind for a career?" He asked, curious about what Ellen was aiming at for her own life. The zebra shrugged.
"Honestly? I wanted to be a police officer."
That was not the answer he would've dared to guess. Still, she didn't said it as if it was still her goal.
"Why 'wanted'? Surely you can still think of it. Ak- , huh, my father is one after all. He could give you some pointers when you meet him." Durham suggested, hopeful she would give at least a chance to rethink it. Being a police officer was a lot better than literally any other job, especially when it gives you firearms for personal protection. If anything he honestly could see a tough girl like Ellen being on a uniform. Not to mention how good she would look.
"I don't know. Thanks anyway. Things had been kinda difficult to understand after what happened with Tem. I wish he was still with us."
Durham pressed a little harder on his grip to gave her some sort of assurance. He dared not to let her be consumed by such sad thoughts.
"Hey, like I said before, I'm sorry about Tem. I didn't know him at all aside from what Legosi told me and few brief encounters. I'm sure he was a good animal. Just don't let what happened with him stop you from moving on in your life. Things will come through eventually. I'm sure the folks working with my father are on the case with a lot of dedication. No one wants a murder loose on a school after all."
"Yeah, you're right." She nodded, her hand grasped his more firmly. "I just hope it isn't anyone from the club."
"Who knows? Only time will tell. The best we can do now is stay put and not risk ourselves adventuring alone out there. You never know who could be leading you into a false sense of security." Ellen chortled at that.
"Isn't that right 'Mr. Coyote who's leading me at night back to my dorms'?
"Gez, your irony stings my heart with negativity and mistrust. I may return to the sick bay and spend the rest of the semester there." He replied back with his own touch of irony. Ellen replied with a light shove on his shoulder.
"Say, do you have plans for the Summer Festival? I wanted to go somewhere after the show. Tired of being stuck in this campus. I miss going outside, but going alone is just not something I dare to do." She asked, looking at him hopefully. Durham felt like this sort of question was a gift from heavens.
"I may have something in mind. That if you're okay with spending the night with me." He replied with a cheeky grin. Ellen looked pensive for a moment.
"Anything smutty?"
"WHAT?"
A/N: Sorry for the delay, been through an stressful weekend and had no time to work on this. Thank you all for the reviews and for reading this story. Next update this weekend if no unexpected issues until then. Stay safe ya'll.