Chapter 3 - The Light of the Morning

Sebun had heard talk of the new neighbors for about a week now. A young male wolf and buck were shown the room next to hers while she was at work. There were two things strange about that.

Firstly: the rooms in the hidden combo were all for one animal. Even that seemed to be a stretch, sometimes.

And secondly, of course: why would a carnivore and a herbivore willingly room together? Even if they were friends, wasn't there the fear that the carnivore would one night lose control?

Nevertheless, the sheep pushed it from her mind. That was of course, until the day they actually moved in.

She caught glimpses of them moving their stuff in with the help of an old komodo dragon, a tiger, and a dall sheep. She didn't think she'd see such a colorful cast of animals actually work together outside of a training video or one of those lame educational videos they'd show in school.

The wolf, despite his large size, was acting like a complete puppy, and the buck seemed like he couldn't keep a smile off his face whenever he looked at him. She couldn't imagine anybody being that happy to be moving into this dump.

It wasn't until she was settling down for the night that she realized what was really going on.

For the short time she had been living in the condo, Sebun was lucky enough to be between two vacant rooms. Now, she could hear muffled noises from the TV in her new neighbors' room. It wasn't a problem, though. In fact she found it a bit soothing. It wasn't until the two started talking that it got annoying. Ugh, why are they raising their voices? It's so late at night. I swear I'll call the cops on them if that wolf starts getting rowdy. That deer better clear out fast.

She couldn't make out their conversation, but she soon realized there was no animosity in the tones. They sounded happy. They went quiet again after that, and Sebun decided it was a good time to go to sleep herself.

Of course, right as she settled in, the voices started again. And then...noises. She didn't want to think about it. Refused to think about it. How could it be? In what world would this situation ever work? Just how did they...Oh yeah...this is the Hidden Condo...where the animals who want to live outside of society live...

Sebun stared up at her ceiling, listening to the passionate noises from the other side of the thin wall. Those two boys...they're definitely having sex...

Now she had her phone out, emergency number on the ready. Nothing good could come from a carnivore and a herbivore having sex, especially if one of them was a wolf. She remembered those string of predation cases last year perpetrated by a band of canines led by a wolf. She should call them right now...

...

The sounds from the other room held no sign of struggle. It just sounded like two animals being intimate, and it continued that way. Sebun's arm slowly lowered, her phone dropping from her hand onto the comforter.

The sounds from the two new neighbors reached a climax, and all was quiet again. After a bit she could hear the two talking softly, along with what sounded like laughter. Now her chest just hurt. How could she have thought to call the authorities on two animals sharing a private moment like that? What kind of neighbor would she have been to these two young newcomers?

Of course, the strongest emotions she felt were ones she didn't want to acknowledge: emptiness and loneliness.

She rolled over on her side, trying to get some sleep before work.

The annoying tune of the sheep's alarm went off, signaling to her that she had not gotten a wink of sleep. She groaned, turning it off and reminding herself once again to change the alarm sound so she wouldn't want to smash the damn thing.

She threw some simple clothes on and grabbed her wallet. Coffee was on the menu. Lots and lots of coffee.

Sebun left her room, not bothering to lock it. She looked to her left and froze, seeing one of her new neighbors. The deer. He was walking her way with an awful limp.

Louis straightened out as soon as he saw the small sheep, clearing his throat. He lifted his hand in an attempted wave. His butt was driving him crazy after that sexcapade and not showing it was hard. He felt like wincing every time he moved his legs.

Sebun smiled awkwardly, waving back. "Good morning," she offered.

"It's nice to meet you." Louis scratched behind his neck, deciding to lean against the wall. He shifted a bit and made a sound. "I'm LOUis—"

The smaller animal mimicked the deer, scratching in the same place. "Oh, hello! I'm your neighbor! Sebun!"

"So...The Hidden Condo, huh? Pretty cool place, I guess."

"Oh? Y-yeah, oh, suuure!" The sheep crossed her arms, then put them behind her back. Shut up, Sebun. Don't..."Sooo...I noticed someone else moved into that room, too?"

"Ah, yeah. That's just my fiance. Trust me, he's really adorable."

FIANCE? "Ohhhh! I see. Well...the walls are thin here so...be mindful! Have a good day." Sebun turned around quickly and walked away, unable to deal with whatever would be talked about next.

The deer's eyes widened and he just stood there, blinking as he realized the levity of what she had just said.

Sebun descended the steps quickly. How could a carnivore and herbivore progress that far? Was the wolf just using him? Did he just think he was a cute little item to have around? The way that deer was walking was NOT good. Did he ravish him without any thought?

The sheep's steaming head attempted to cool itself. The deer called the wolf adorable. That wasn't language usually used for carnivores, especially not from an herbivore. She was well aware of the word being levied her way at work, always in a condescending tone, but the buck was wistful when he spoke.

Sebun made up her mind: she would get to the bottom of those two, eventually.

The deer slowly walked back to their apartment after thinking for a moment and looked at Legosi, who insisted on making him breakfast. He had his phone propped up and he was trying to follow this recipe that was moving so fast through it, he had no choice but to constantly rewind the video. Louis leaned against the door frame, raising a brow. "You couldn't just look up a recipe online?"

"I learn by watching," the wolf insisted. "How did you like the showers?"

"They were...lonely." He came over. "Let me see that." He lifted the phone to see the recipe and slowly, his eyes furrowed. "OH, OH NO. This is...This is...This is a sin upon all cooking! They're not even...What the fuck!" It was clear the video was filled with many cooking sins. Louis put a hand on his hip as he continued to watch. "Oh my goodness, could they be any more idiotic? Everyone knows you don't do that! Would it kill them to show the final product for one second? Oh, oh jeez this is making me mad. It has to be fake! How do you report a video!" He tapped around. "Can I report them for lying?"

Legosi just watched in awe at what unfolded. "Maybe you should start a cooking Zootube channel..."

"I...I can't believe they would put this out there! Did you even see the next recipe! They're boiling plastic!"

Legosi blinked. "Was I following a science experiment?"

"Maybe you were following a murderer because that can kill animals!" He groaned. "Ugh, they have so many videos!" He clicked on, just to see. "THIS IS EVEN WORSE! THEY'RE PUTTING ALUMINUM IN THE TOASTER AND RAMEN IN CHOCOLATE, WHICH CANINES CAN'T EVEN EAT. Shouldn't their videos have a demographic of, I dunno, everyone?"

His mate's ears folded back. "I just wanted to make pancakes..."

Louis shook his head. "Maybe I should just show you how it's done."

"But it's your birthdayyy!" Legosi whined.

"But, you clearly can't figure it out yourself."

Legosi pattered his feet on the ground in frustration. "But this is supposed to be for you!"

"I know! But...I mean, did you see those videos!"

"I just picked the first one that came up."

"Mm..." Louis made a face.

Legosi looked over the few kitchen wares they had, all spread out over the table. "We could go out for breakfast."

"Well...you already got all the stuff out and pancakes aren't that hard. For me."

The canine reached back for his phone. "I'll find another recipe."

"I can take care of it," Louis argued.

The wolf rubbed his arm. "I don't wanna feel useless..."

"You aren't useless! You've helped me so much. I'd be dead if it wasn't for you," he explained.

"I should be able to make a simple meal, then..."

"Making food doesn't make you useful."

"Animals need to eat, dear!" The dog was acting like a puppy, as usual.

"That's why I'm the chef!"

Legosi grumbled, giving in. "Well...help me, then."

"I just told you to let me," the deer said, stepping in.

The two ended up making Louis' birthday breakfast together. The pancakes came out nice and fluffy.

The deer smiled as they sat at their small table in the middle of their home, chewing gently, as he looked at the sunlight pouring through the window behind his mate. The light pooled onto the messy covers of their bed, practically glowing.

"It's...beautiful, isn't it?" Legosi idly chewed as he asked the question.

Louis moved to look up at the wolf, as he dug his fork into the pancake. "It's hard to put into words how I feel." He took a sip of his orange juice.

"Good, right?" Legosi clacked his nails on the table, nervously. "I hope you feel...good."

"I've already spent enough time feeling bad," Louis mumbled.

They ate in silence for a few moments before Legosi spoke again. "Oh, do you think I have anything good to wear to work?"

"Do you know the dress code there?"

"Mel-san said 'business-casual'. What does that even mean?"

"Jeans and a nice shirt, I believe. I've always loved that floral print shirt I got you."

The wolf's long fingers found their way to his chest, fiddling around as if he were wearing the shirt in question. "The bugs might be drawn to the flowers...that might be good, though."

"You would be like Gosha-san and those kids, but with bugs," Louis chuckled. "I bet it's...cute?"

"You could come in sometime." Legosi smiled and finished up his breakfast. He was nervous about the job, and he would have to ask if he could work more than once a week to help pay for the condo.

Louis' eyes then moved to the chunk of his ear that was missing. "What did they say about your ear?"

Legosi cocked his head, before realizing. "Oh, uh, he didn't say anything about it."

"And you think it will be okay? I mean, you're still the same beautiful wolf. Who could deny you?" He grinned, pouring more syrup on his second pancake.

The canine's smile remained on his face. "Not everyone loves wolves as much as you do, hun."

"They're mistaken, then."

"I should get my notes together, actually." Legosi stood up, his plate in hand. "Uh...what do we do about dishes?"

"Oh...Just leave them on the table and we'll get something for them. Maybe we can ask other neighbors for advice on how to live here? Speaking of, I met our next door neighbor, Sebun this morning. We could ask her."

"Oh yeah...the neighbors." Legosi set the plate down, shifting in place. "Um, how was she?"

"Small. Though, she sounds older than she looks. I guess sheep are like that. Well, Pina looks older than he sounds, so I don't know. Tem looked like a kid, though."

"You have to take notes at work?"

"Well, I need to gather my thoughts on all of the bugs I'll be showcasing." The wolf pulled out a pair of jeans and unfurled them. "Keep my head level. I don't want to be so nervous I forget what to say."

"Awww...I'm imagining it." He took another sip of juice. "You're cute when you fumble." He scratched his cheek and smiled, sheepishly. "Though, I guess that doesn't help at work."

"Yeah," Legosi grumbled. "I don't get paid to be cute."

"We'd never run out of money, then. Too bad I'm not cute."

Legosi turned to him with a bow-legged stance. "You're so cute! You are extremely cute, Louis!"

"This is the first time you've said that." His fiance wiped his muzzle with a napkin.

"I-I thought maybe you'd think it was insulting..."

"I always thought you just thought I was the handsome or pretty one."

The wolf shook his head, curtly. "You're...so much! Handsome, beautiful, cute! I still sometimes can't believe I can have you..."

"That's because society taught us that this shouldn't even be happening."

The wolf groaned. It was so easy to get caught up in it all and forget their relationship's status to the rest of the world. He slipped the jeans on one leg at a time, each one hugging his shape, snugly. Aside from being naked, Louis liked the look of Legosi with tight jeans and no shirt the best.

The deer grinned and sighed. "I can't wait till you get to your first paycheck. You'll be so excited. That tail is gonna wag like crazy."

"And we can start buying the things on your list to make this place truly feel like home!" Much to Louis' disappointment, a shirt went over Legosi's torso. At least it was the yellow one that made the deer happy and warm.

Louis was still undressed as he finished his meal. "Gonna be fun looking at dirty dishes around the house."

"Yeah, we'll need to figure that out when we get back." Legosi shrugged on his light hoodie. The tie and suspenders may have been a quaint look, but seeing the wolfin clothes like this now was a real treat.

"Mm...Wow. You look beautiful."

The canine looked down at himself. "They're just regular clothes."

"Yeah, but you look great in them." The deer sighed. "I'll look for some jobs tonight."

"I can help, if you want." Legosi walked up to Louis and kissed his forehead. "Are you ready to go out? I mean, after you get dressed."

"Oh. Right." He pulled on a maroon t-shirt and skinny jeans, snaking a belt through the loops.

Legosi wrapped an arm around Louis' shoulders. "Alright, our first adventure together, here!"

"Yeah! Let's go!" They disembarked from their home, and Louis looked around at the hall. "Hmm..."

Legosi dipped his head down to his eye level. "What is it?"

It was true. The magic from the previous day had worn off a bit, showing the couple just how old and dilapidated the building actually was. The two walked down the hallway toward the stairwell.

Paint chipping on the wall, lights flickering, some bugs around (not really an issue), cracks on the floor...It was quite a sight.

"I wonder why they don't fix up the place..." Legosi wondered aloud.

"They probably just don't have the money? Not sure. You'd think residents complain. I mean...It was cheap for a reason, animals that can't pay for anything fancy have to have somewhere to go. Though those animals are already poor, does where they live have to look like it, too? I guess fanciness will always constitute wealth, though."

Legosi sighed. "Maybe nobody cares."

"About fixing it?" He raised a brow. "Well, then we'll just have to make our apartment nicer than all the others!"

The journey down the four flights of stairs was just as long as always. Both animals wondered if it was something they would get used to. Louis suddenly felt bad for making Pina make the trip so many times.

The avian at the reception desk offered them a smile as they entered the lobby, the most well put together part of the building.

Louis looked around, as well. "And yet the lobby seems well up kept..."

"I guess that makes sense, right? It's the part most animals see."

"Hm..." He scratched his cheek. "Interesting..." They got to the front door and he opened it for his mate. This was their first out of many times leaving the condo. Louis felt like if he was a dog, his tail would be wagging.