AN: So...the most recent chapter of Beast Complex came out starring the albino raven and an albino kangaroo. I like many initially mistook that kangaroo for Azuki. I figured out that the picture of Azuki I commented on some time ago was actually this albino kangaroo that Paru Itagaki was giving us an early sneak peek of. Yeah...that happened. Anyway, this chapter reveals the fate of Philip, Louis and Juno's hybrid son, by the end of it. Other important things happen in this chapter before that though. Here we go.
Ch 12: What Happens in a Hospital
Louis and Juno are sitting together in a hospital waiting room. It's all that they can do for the moment since Philip's been taken into Surgery. They have to wait until a doctor comes to tell them if their son lived or died.
All five lions (Agata, Free, Dolph, Hino, and Dope) are standing nearby.
Free had to be caught up by Hino since it took until he was in an ambulance on his way to the hospital for him to wake up.
Goshen is sitting close to Louis and Juno, his stomach pain mostly gone now.
Then, Casey passes through while escorted by police officers. "Anything?"
"Not yet," says Dope.
"Dammit." He goes out the door with the officers.
"He'll be spending tonight in a jail cell like Andy," says Hino.
"What about Ben?" asks Free.
"His leg's broken," says Dope. "Ben'll be staying here until it's healed. Then, he will be joining his friends."
"They helped out tonight," Agata says in a nasally voice. Having his nostrils stuffed with cloth and bandages over his nose would certainly have that effect. "Shouldn't they get some sort of lenience for that?"
"They were still accomplices for Philip in his plans," says Dolph. "Their change of heart will help, but they still committed serious crimes."
Dope holds up a claw. "Theft of equipment." He sticks up more claws as he continues to count. "Blackmail, holding that TV station hostage, kidnapping—"
"We won't be pressing any charges for that," says Louis. "Same applies to the attempted murder on Philip's part."
"That's right," says Juno.
"Suspected as much," says Dolph. "That helps everyone a lot. Still, they'll all have to do some time for the other things they've done. Also, unlike Philip, the others are legally adults."
Goshen thinks of something. "Is Philip still seventeen?"
The lions and Louis become very worried.
"He'll turn eighteen five months from today," says Juno.
There's a collective sigh of relief.
Just then, Legoshi comes into the room in a wheelchair. "Any news?"
"No," says Dolph.
Everyone stares at the wolf as he comes to a stop near them.
Louis is the first to figure out what's really going on. "Legoshi, lose the blanket."
The wolf shakes his head. "No. Without it, everyone's eyes will be drawn to the ice pack that's…down there."
The others in the room sigh or snicker realizing the truth of the situation.
"Maybe," Free says with a smirk. "With the blanket though, you look like you got a real wicked boner."
Legoshi looks down at himself. His eyes widen as it finally registers. "Ah!" The wolf's hands quickly ball up the blanket and throw it.
Dolph catches the blanket. "I'll go find a nurse to put this away." He leaves the room.
Legoshi covers his face in embarrassment. "Now I get why everyone was staring weirdly at me on my way here. An old jackal lady even called me a pervert."
Louis is staring at the wolf's shirt. "I just now noticed you're wearing plaid."
Legoshi uncovers his face. "Yeah? What about it?"
"No offense, but it makes you look a bit goofy."
"Hey! I think it looks nice! My grandpa wore it well for all the years I knew him! Plaid embodies the family man!"
Goshen frowns. "I miss Great Grandpa Gosha."
Legoshi pats his son's knee. "Me too."
Dolph suddenly reenters. "We have visitors."
A rabbit walks in.
"Mom!" Goshen gets up and runs over to hug his mother.
Haru smiles. "You okay? Looked like a mean kick."
"Yeah. Pain's mostly gone now. Didn't even need painkillers or anything for it."
"Good." As she steps out of the hug, the rabbit's face gets an angry frown. "You run out of the apartment like that again, you're grounded!"
"Huh?! Mom, I'm eighteen…and married!"
"You still live under our roof, Mister! That gives us free reign to ground you as we see fit to!"
Goshen sighs. "In the future, I won't be so sudden. I'll also remember to say goodbye to you. It was crappy of me to forget." He sits back down in his seat.
"Good." Haru heads over to Legoshi, climbing up to sit on the armrest of his wheelchair. She looks down at the ice pack nestled on her husband's groin. "Kid got you good."
Legoshi nods. "I'll be sore there for almost a week."
"Too bad. Watching you fight like that got me in the mood."
The wolf's jaw drops. "Aww. Now I really hate my condition."
Haru smiles at Juno. "Glad you're safe."
"Thanks, Haru," says the she wolf.
The rabbit locks eyes with Louis.
The stag feels his insides freeze up at the stare. "Haru."
"There are many things I'd like to say to you about your choice to push us away for over twenty years."
"I understand."
"But, I'll save them for when things aren't so dire." She looks over at the door with a big smile. "Besides, someone else really wants to talk to you."
Louis turns and stands up at the sight of the animal in the doorway. "Marie."
The young hind stares blankly at her father before giving him a smile. "Dad," she says as she walks toward him.
The stag feels his heart soar at the more intimate name for him. He wraps his daughter in a big hug. "Marie, I'm so sorry. I should've been a better father to you."
"It's alright now. I've already forgiven you."
Louis pulls out of the hug. "But—"
"No, Dad. You don't have to punish yourself anymore. I forgive you because you're not that man anymore."
"I'm not?"
"No, you're not. You confessed so much of your past to the world. You refused to leave Juno's side when she was unconscious and Philip offered you the chance to run."
The she wolf's tail wags when she hears this.
"You even offered yourself to be the first killed when it didn't look like you and Juno had any chance of escape. The you I grew up with wouldn't have done any of those things."
Louis's stomach lurches at the thought of that being true. "It's sickening to me that I was ever as pathetic as I was. I'll never allow myself to be that man again."
"I know you won't." Marie goes to sit down by Goshen. "You, my dear husband, are an idiot."
Goshen gives an embarrassed smile. "Sorry."
Marie suddenly smiles and hugs the wolf-rabbit hybrid. "But you're my idiot and I don't ever want to trade you for any other."
Goshen looks over at his father hoping for an explanation to this odd statement.
"You'll get used to it," says Legoshi. "The mix of insults with terms of endearment."
Haru smirks. "Being your father's son, it's only natural you'd marry someone who'd call you on your dumb tendencies."
Marie looks over at Juno. "I know emotions are running high, but I need to ask this. Are you and Dad going to be together now?"
Juno freezes. 'I know we've both said I love you's, but is Louis willing to openly be in an interspecial relationship with me?'
"If she's willing to be with me," says the stag.
The she wolf turns to Louis and smiles with a wag of her tail. "Of course."
Marie smiles too. "In that case, I'm happy for you…Mom."
Juno stares at the young hind before rushing over and hugging her.
Louis loves this. 'Wow. Marie's already calling her Mom.' He frowns. 'This all should have happened years ago. Marie could have had a positive mother figure in her life a lot sooner and Philip wouldn't be…' The stag can't bring himself to finish the thought.
Dolph taps on Louis's shoulder. "Boss, we have a lot more visitors."
The stag turns to the doorway and his eyes widen at the sight of the group standing there. "It's you guys."
Bill, Aoba, Els, Riz, Pina, Shiira, Dom, Kai, Kibi, and Tao are all standing in the doorway staring at the red deer stag.
Juno gets up and stands beside Louis.
The long silence is broken by Pina. "It's safe to say that things have been crazy lately."
"Understatement of the year," says Kai.
"What's going on with Philip?" Aoba asks the parents.
"We don't know yet," says Louis.
"He's in Surgery now," says Juno. "A doctor'll come out and tell us…" She can't finish the sentence.
"That's rough," says Riz.
There's a bit more silence before it's broken by Dom. "It was nice you two said all those things about us."
"It really was," says Tao.
"We meant every word," says Juno.
Louis sighs. "Listen…everyone…I—"
"You already did all your apologizing during that live stream, Louis," says Shiira.
"You don't need to repeat yourself," says Kibi.
The stag nods. "Alright, but I'll say this. I promise to be at every reunion from now on."
Pina laughs. "It doesn't have to be every meeting you crazy stag."
"None of us have been able to make every single one," says Aoba.
Louis smiles. "Then I'll make sure to let you all know when I can't be there."
A teenage hybrid girl enters the waiting room. "Juno, you're okay!"
The she wolf gives the teenager a hug. "I'm in one piece, Trini."
Louis's eyes analyze the young hybrid. 'Looks like a tall goat. Fangs. She's orange with black stripes.' His eyes widen and he looks over at Bill and Els for confirmation. He receives it when they lift up their hands to show off their wedding rings. "Your daughter is quite lovely."
Bill smirks. "Course she is. Trini got her mother's looks."
Els giggles. "You flatterer."
"Nope. Just truth."
Trini looks over at Dolph. "Thank you for reading my comment."
The lion tilts his head in confusion. "Which one was it?"
"Mine was the one that told Philip 'We love you'."
Everyone stares at the goat-tiger hybrid. They're a little bit shocked she used those exact words.
Els places a hand on her daughter's arm. "I know he's Louis and Juno's son, but that boy has done things."
Trini looks down at her mother. "I'm aware of that, Mom. Philip was feeling hurt and he took it out on others. I'm not going to hold that against him. I'm not sure if I'll be romantically involved with him, but I'd like to be a close friend. Philip needs all the supportive animals in his life he can get."
Juno smiles. 'Trini's schoolgirl crush has been tempered into something more mature.'
Louis stares at the young hybrid girl. 'Despite them not meeting yet, is she Philip's future wife? Whether or not she is, Trini's right about what she said. Philip will need to have as many caring individuals in his life as we can get. Those friends of his and everyone we know certainly will help.' He glances over at Juno. 'The two of us will be the most loving parents for our son.'
"Louis and Juno?" asks a new voice.
The stag and the she wolf turn to the source. They are filled with dread.
Standing in the door to Surgery is a wildebeest doctor. He starts walking over to the pair with an expressionless face.
A whine escapes Juno. 'No. Not again.'
Louis feels pure terror. So much more than his days as livestock had ever made him feel. 'Not this. Anything but this.'
'Rex, you chose to take so much from us.'
'We accept everything else gladly.'
The couple's hands find each other as the wildebeest doctor comes to a stop right in front of them. 'Please. Don't take our son too.'
Meanwhile…
Philip finds himself in a gray void. 'Where am I? Am I…dead?' His feet don't feel as if they're on ground right now. 'That seems like a good indicator.' Looking down, the hybrid sees something that horrifies him.
Two shadowy animals are rising up towards him. Two familiar wolves.
The deer-wolf hybrid immediately tries clawing his way upward. He can't even tell if he is going anywhere, but Philip's not willing to look down again to check. Suddenly, the coldest of hands get a vice like grip on him. "AAH! NO!"
"That's no way to talk to us, Philip," says the beast that used to be Xander.
"You will treat us with respect, Hybrid," says the beast that used to be Delilah.
Philip is shaking.
"There's the fear," Xander says in a delighted way. "It always delighted us."
"Meant you were ready to listen to us," says Delilah.
"Who knew it was the product of your herbivore half?"
"No wonder we had the urge to eat you."
Philip whimpers.
"We didn't appreciate you making us look bad to the world," says Xander.
"Thought we'd have to wait a long time to get our revenge on you," says Delilah.
"You're already here though."
"We'll be able to do what we want with you…forever."
That makes Philip start struggling to get free of his tormentors. "No! Let me go! I won't let you!"
"You think you have the right to leave us?" asks Xander.
"You may be nothing more than a disgusting hybrid, but you have learned to operate like us," says Delilah.
Philip freezes.
"You stole things you wanted," says Xander.
"Held information over the heads of others," says Delilah.
"Threatened lives to get your way."
"You even tried to eliminate those you didn't like."
"You're coming down with us."
"It's where you belong."
As much as he hates and fears the two, Philip doesn't struggle against Xander and Delilah as they drag him downward. 'They're right. I am a monster. Hell is what I deserve.' While the gray void darkens into black, Philip begins to close his eyes.
"PHILIP!" two voices scream from above.
The hybrid's eyes snap open as Xander and Delilah get forced away from him by a bright and shining light above them.
Inside the light are the faces of Louis and Juno.
"Please!" screams the she wolf.
"Don't leave us!" shouts the stag.
Philip stares up at his birth parents. 'Why are you guys here? Why bother with me? You shouldn't. I'm no good for you or anyone.'
"You're good for our amusement," says Xander.
"How fun it'll be to play with you for all eternity," says Delilah.
The two monstrous wolves place their clawed hands on Philip's face and continue taking him down.
"Don't go!" shouts Juno.
"We want to know you!" shouts Louis.
Philip stares at the two in the light through Xander and Delilah's fingers. Just when their fingers start to block his eyes, the deer-wolf hybrid has a thought shine through in his mind. 'I'd like to know you too.' Philip thrashes around, kicks, and swipes with his claws until he's broken free of Xander and Delilah. The hybrid claws his way upward towards his real parents.
"Get back here!" Xander loudly growls at him.
"You can't escape us!" Delilah screeches at Philip.
The deer-wolf hybrid ignores them as he keeps going up to reach Louis and Juno. 'I want to know you too, I want to know you too, I want to know you too.' As Philip approaches the light, he feels the cold hands of Xander and Delilah at his feet. 'No! I'm almost there!' At the edge of the light, the two demonic wolves wrap themselves around Philip. He shuts his eyes so he won't have to see the light get further away as he gets dragged down again.
"We own your heart and mind," Xander whispers into Philip's ears.
"You are our prey," Delilah says as she licks her lips.
As Philip cries from fear and despair, he remembers the warehouse. How Louis and Juno had smiled at him and held their hands out to him, welcoming him into their lives.
Xander and Delilah bite into the hybrid.
Philip screams. "MOM! DAD! HELP ME!"
Hands grab onto Philip's arms. Two pairs of very warm hands.
Xander and Delilah scream in pain and vanish.
Only feeling the warm hands now, Philip opens his eyes.
Looking right back at him, the source of the warmth, are Louis and Juno.
Seeing and feeling his true parents holding onto him, hope and a sense of calmness wash over the deer-wolf hybrid. Suddenly, the light right above him gets so bright he needs to shut his eyes. Philip opens his eyes once the light dims. 'A room?' As the hybrid looks around, he gets a better idea of what's going on. 'I'm in a hospital bed. It's daylight, so I've been unconscious for hours.' Philip looks down for the biggest surprise.
Louis and Juno are fast asleep in chairs on opposite sides of him, their hands gripping his arms.
'Just like what I…dreamt? Is that what that was?' Philip shifts to get more comfortable.
The stag and the she wolf jolt awake at the movement.
"Philip," Juno says with a big smile.
"You're awake," Louis says with his own smile.
The deer-wolf hybrid tries to say something, but discovers he can't open his mouth. This is when he realizes his snout is bandaged shut.
"You shot the front of your mouth pretty badly," says Juno.
"Luckily, you completely missed your tongue," says Louis. "You did end up losing all of your front teeth though."
Philip cringes. 'Yikes.'
"I just had an idea. Let's get you carnivore dentures."
Juno smiles at Louis. "That's a great idea. Philip said himself he had trouble eating eggs and fish, the biggest sources of protein." She turns to her son. "That would make it easier to get your protein. You wouldn't need them to be chopped or blended just to eat them anymore."
Philip just blinks.
"You know, you gave us a really good scare last night," says Louis. "After the doctor had told us you'd survived the operation, we came in here to see you."
Juno's eyes become sad. "When we got here, your heart monitor was going off like crazy on us. Doctors and nurses rushed in saying you went into cardiac arrest."
"We panicked so much, security guards came in here and restrained us so we couldn't get in the way."
"We were calling out to you, begging you to stay with us."
Philip looks between his parents. 'Did I hear them?'
Louis pats his son's arm. "Then, you started convulsing."
Juno strokes her son's other arm. "We were terrified. Not only were you dying, but it felt like you were suffering too."
"That's when the craziest thing happened. Obviously, we were delirious from worry."
"We had to have imagined it since you were unconscious and your snout was sealed shut. Still, we both somehow heard you calling out to us."
Philip's eyes widen. 'They heard me calling for them? Does this mean I was really being attacked by Xander and Delilah?'
Louis chuckles. "Stomped on my security guard's foot with my prosthetic leg. Probably broke his foot."
Juno smiles a little. "I elbowed mine in the gut."
"We ran over to you and grabbed onto you, refusing to let go."
"Holding onto you, your heart stabilized and you calmed down."
Philip looks down at his bed sheets. 'It was all real. I was in danger, I called out to them for help, and they came to save me.'
"We've been here the whole night," says Louis.
"Haven't left once," says Juno.
Philip looks back up at his parents and feels…something for them. Something warm.
Louis frowns. "I've got some bad news though. While we and everyone else who'd been at the warehouse aren't going to press charges, the same can't be said elsewhere."
Juno looks away. "You and your friends did steal really valuable equipment and held that TV station hostage. That means all of you will be spending time behind bars."
Philip's heart sinks at those words.
Louis places a hand on the young hybrid's shoulder. "Hey, this isn't the end of the world. Legoshi'll do everything he can to get you all out as soon as possible. He's a Beastar after all."
Juno places a hand on her son's cheek. "We'll be getting jobs right away. That way, once you get out, you'll have a place to go you can call home…with us."
Philip stares at his parents. 'Home? With…them?' The young hybrid starts shaking. He freezes up when the stag and the she wolf wrap him in a big hug.
"It's okay," Juno says while rubbing her son's back.
Louis pats his son's shoulder blades. "We got you."
Those words open the floodgates for Philip as he cries harder than he ever has. His arms wrap around his parents, returning the hug. 'They love me. My mom and dad love me.'
AN: Philip survived, but he'll be incarcerated for some of his crimes. However, Louis and Juno have sworn to have a place for him to come home to once he's out. Truly loving parents at work here. Also, I'm sorry for those of you hoping to see Gosha in this story at some point. I love the character too, but I just felt that he would be dead at this point. Anyway, there are now only two chapters left to go in this story. By next Saturday, Kingdom Fall will be complete. Hope my readers will enjoy it. See you all then!
