Chapter 25 - Never Saw That Coming

Legosi pinched his brow, the lines and ghosts of lines previously drawn and then erased started to meld together in his vision as he stared at the paper on the table. They didn't have any rulers so it made it even harder. Plus, his handwriting was frankly pretty bad, as opposed to his general art skills. He sighed and looked up at Louis who was tinkering in the kitchen.

The deer continued to work quietly, singing softly. It was a song he made up. Something about love at the theater.

His mate sighed again, louder. "I don't know if I can do this, babe," he pouted.

Louis turned his head, stopping his song. "What? It was your idea."

"Yeah, because I thought it'd be similar to drafting out a set design. But...it really isn't." The paper in front of him had 'Party on the roof' written, with the rest of it the space being taken up with guesstimates of where the other information should go. "And I don't want to just write it plainly," Legosi reiterated, as he had all morning. "It needs to get attention since it will be in two days already."

"What? Writing the info isn't good enough?"

"Not really. Plus, there's a lot of information that needs to be communicated in such a small space. We have the eye-grabbing 'Party on the roof' text, the time and date, and also what the patrons should expect at the party and the suggestion to bring food to share. It's not something you can just write out plainly." Legosi tapped the pencil on his head as he went on his passionate, artistic rant.

Louis raised a brow. "So why can't you write all that out, then? You said it just fine."

The wolf stood up and gesticulated wildly at the paper and the general area around him. "It needs to be formatted and spaced correctly! It's too hard to do by hand. It's why most animals do this sort of thing with a program." He stopped moving, suddenly. "Also...my handwriting sucks."

The deer chuckled. "You're taking this too seriously, hon."

"We need to make a first impression, especially after the past few days..." Legosi walked over to cool down a bit. He got passionate about the strangest things.

Louis leaned up and kissed his lips. "Mm. Calm down."

Like clockwork, the contact made the wolf's ears wiggle, and his tail wag. "Last night was pretty fun, huh?"

"It was funny."

"Maybe the party will be even better!" the canine suggested. He then set off across the room. "Does your laptop have anything on it that could make a good flier for the party? I know mine doesn't..."

"I don't even remember where I put it, so...maybe?" The deer tapped his chin.

"I guess we have to unpack more still, huh." Legosi dug through a couple of boxes before seemingly giving up.

"I guess so. You sure you can't just write it?" Louis asked. "I think the point is really all that matters. I mean we don't need everyone to show up."

"You try it," Legosi suggested. "You probably have better handwriting than me."

The deer left the kitchen area and went to the table. "Sure. It can be something we both worked on."

The wolf walked over, curiously peeking over the deer's shoulder.

Louis picked up a pencil. "You can draw our heads in the top corners. You're good at drawing! It will make it cute!"

"Oh, you're right!" Legosi bounced excitedly, but then stopped. "Wait...where would we make copies of this?"

"Oh." The deer blinked. "Shit."

Legosi let out a long groan. "I guess we have to just make it simple."

"Is that a problem?"

The canine sighed again. "It's fine. I just want to make a good impression...although, maybe that's silly considering where we live."

Louis moved back into him with his hips. "You can make a good impression at the party."

"I dunno..." The wolf moved his large hand to rub his neck. "I'm not great with crowds."

The cervid wiggled a bit. "You're going to do great because it's you."

Legosi let a smile grace his lips. "Okay...if you say so."

"I do!" He began writing down the info.

His partner observed, noting that, yes, the deer's handwriting was better than his. Probably from classes he was forced to take.

Louis kept his butt against his lover as he stayed bent over the paper, writing what he knew.

Legosi eventually got tired of just standing there, and not wanting to leave the contact Louis was giving him, leaned down and pressed his chest against his back, his large arms wrapping around him. "Can you still write like this?" he asked into his shoulder.

"I'm a skilled deer. Of course, I can," Louis smiled, continuing to write with ease.

"You're so talented and I love youuu," Legosi mused, planting kisses on his back.

The buck chuckled. "I love you too, sweetheart. Now, how is it looking so far?"

The carnivore peered over. "It looks nice! Still plain, but the writing is good. And then I just have to draw our heads. Make sure to leave enough room!"

"I have, I have, don't worry. Still, how much of these should we make? We definitely need one in the lobby."

"Yeah, and one on each floor, at least. So that's at least six." Legosi moved so his forehead and snout were pressed flat on Louis' back. "We need tape or something to hang it up, too."

"That can't be hard. I'm sure Sebun-san has some." He smiled more, feeling warm from their position.

Legosi swallowed. "Louis...I'm happy. Are you happy?"

The deer's hand faltered. "What?"

"I just want to make sure you're feeling okay. That everything is good."

"Right now? I'm okay."

"Alright." Legosi's voice rumbled through his bones from their position. "Just...let me know if you're not feeling well, or need some space, or anything."

"Legosi, I'm fine. Do I not seem fine?"

"Well...I wasn't able to tell before. It all just happened so quickly."

"I know. I know..." Louis' ear twitched. "But it's over now."

"Alright," the wolf said quietly. He raised his head before speaking again. "We should make a separate one for Shogi-san."

"Something tells me he's not going to want to come."

"We should still offer."

"I don't know. I...feel bad about abandoning him."

"Me, too. At least he'll be getting money from Oguma." Legosi laid back down against Louis.

The deer smiled. "Thank goodness." He started to write again, his wolf quietly watching.

After a few minutes, Louis felt Legosi jump up slightly, accompanied by a squeaking sound.

"Huh? What?" The deer turned his head.

It happened again. "Uh, oh. I just got hiccups..."

"Wouldn't be the first time. I love when you get hiccups. Try to keep them longer this time."

"Hmp! But they're annoying."

"To you, maybe."

"Hic."

"Hehe." Louis pushed back into him more as he went back to writing, blushing lightly as he thought about how they hadn't done it in a while. Ever since...recent events. Wow. They could have never done it again. There's no way he'd ever do it with another wolf after that.

Legosi felt his eyelids growing heavier as Louis continued to work, and despite the hiccups, his body warmth was lulling him to sleep, causing his body weight to come down even more on his smaller frame.

Louis' eye widened. "Legosi?"

"Mmmhm?"

"You shouldn't fall asleep on me! I'll be crushed!"

"Mmm, true." Legosi removed himself from the deer and moved to sit on one of the chairs.

"Why don't you take a nap?" Louis asked.

"Cuz we just woke up and we have stuff to do."

"But you look tired, Mr. Hiccups."

"Mmm...okay." Legosi stood up and lowered himself onto the sofa since the futon had already been put away. "Wake me when you're finished with all of them so I can draw."

"I will." And with that, Louis returned to making fliers.

Legosi felt his face being moved back and forth as his cheeks were hit lightly and there was a weight on his stomach. "Mmph." His brows furrowed, seeing only a blurry brownish shape when he tried to open his eyes.

Louis put his hands on his lover's chest. "Legosiiii."

The wolf closed his eyes and smiled. "Louuuuis."

"Time to wake up."

Legosi sat up and embraced the deer in the process. "Okay, I'm up."

The buck sighed, his nose going on his neck. "Mmm..."

"Let's see those fliers." The larger animal stood up, Louis still nestled in.

The deer got up, looking to the table. "Come see."

Despite not being laid out using a program, Louis was able to make some charming fliers with little differences between them. There were seven in total: one for each floor and an extra one for Shogi. Legosi sat down in front of them, ready to draw the happy couple's heads.

Louis watched as he drew them, combining reality with whatever perception of the two the wolf had in his head. The Legosi on the paper had a much thinner face than the real one, with less fluff, and the Louis handsome to a fault. The deer marveled at how he could draw his exact antler structure from memory.

"I don't even think I could draw myself that well," Louis chuckled, now the one holding him from behind.

"I'd like to see you draw something sometime," Legosi commented, quietly scribbling away.

"Haha, no way. I'd be awful at it!"

"I'd still like to see it."

"I don't even know what I'd draw!"

"You could draw me."

"And ruin your beautiful face?"

"It'd be cute to see," Legosi admitted. "I want to see what features of mine stand out most to you."

"I love your cheek fluff, that's really important."

"Even if I can never get it under control?" the wolf laughed.

"That's the fun of it."

Legosi finished up the first picture and moved to the next flier. "I like the way your ears flick when you're thinking, and how your tail wiggles when you're really happy. I don't know if all deer do that, but those are canine traits."

"They are?"

"Yeah. Tail wagging, especially."

"Well, my tail doesn't constantly wag when I'm happy, like yours."

"It's a rare treat." Predictably, Legosi's tail wagged a bit when he said that.

"Ha! Treat! What a canine thing to say."

"Other animals like treats, too..."

"I don't think deer do."

Legosi looked quizzically at him. "A treat is just like a snack. Everyone likes snacks."

"You can't prove anything."

The dog turned back to his drawing, mumbling. "Celery is a treat..."

Louis gasped. "Don't you talk about my baby celery like that! Celery is levels above a treat."

Legosi snickered and got back to work. Each drawing he did progressively got a little less detailed, but to Louis' eye, it was fine. Once they were done, the wolf spread them all out on the table.

The deer looked over them. "Looks like our work here is done. They look nice!"

"Just need to find places to hang them up. Maybe the lady at the desk has some suggestions?"

"Oh, and she would definitely have tape, I bet."

"All desks have tape," the wolf wisely stated as he stood up and stretched.

Louis wrapped his arms around his stomach. "Mine."

"Hm?"

The cervid looked up. "Trying to be cute." He let go. "Probably not really my thing."

"You're very cute." Legosi turned to face him. "What did you mean by 'mine', though?"

"Uh...you're mine?"

Nothing was said for a moment before the wolf let loose one of his patented 'I totally missed the point' groans. "Sorry, Lou." He turned around and ducked down so he could press his face into his chest. "I love being yours..."

"I know, and I love that you are. Truly. I mean it." They stood there, frozen in the moment. Louis sighed after that. "Should we get going?"

"Guess so."

The two made their way down to the front desk, where the avian female was, as always. She gulped when she saw them. Not these two, again.

Legosi turned to Louis, expecting him to explain.

The deer put a hand on the counter. "Hi. Our friend Sebun said you said we could have a party on the roof here?"

"Oh...yes I told her that should be fine as long as it's kept quiet and reasonable."

"Yes, well," he held up the fliers, "We made these at home and wanted to hang them around. We made one for each floor and we were wondering if you had any suggestions on where to put them and also tape?"

The bird regarded the fliers, trying hard not to smile at the little pictures of the two on each one. "I can hang one here. The stairwell is another good spot. Bathrooms, too." She stood up straight and looked them in the eye. "So are you two...good?"

"What? Good?" Louis titled his still antler-less head.

"Well, with all the shouting and the ambulance the other day..."

"We apologize for that," Louis mumbled. "You see, I had found out some news that made me freak out..." His ears flattened. He honestly wished he never had to talk about it again.

The receptionist held her wings up. "Oh, I won't pry. I just wanted to make sure..." She reached down and pulled out a tape dispenser. "I only have this one, so please bring it back."

"We will," Louis grabbed it, looking to Legosi. "Well...are you sure people will see them at those places?"

"They're the places most visited by all of the residents. I'll make sure to point out the sign to anyone that comes to see me, too. Hell, I might stop by myself."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Louis grinned. "You've been kind to us since we first talked to you. Thank you for that. We need it."

Now she smiled, genuinely. "Glad to hear it! I'm Morgane, by the way."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Louis and this is my soon-to-be, Legosi."

Morange laughed. "I know that already! It's my job."

"Haha, I suppose so. We're going to go hang these around, but we'll see you when we bring the dispenser back."

Legosi gave a little wave as they went off on their mission.

Once the fliers were all hung (one being slipped under Shogi's door with an added knock), and the dispenser was returned, the boys returned to 504, where Louis began unrolling the futon.

Legosi cocked his head. "It's the afternoon, Lou. Gonna take a nap?"

"I'm going to lay down and look up good things to eat at parties."

"I'm going to lay down with you," the wolf declared, plainly.

"Good. That's where you should be always. Next to me." He looked at his ring for a second.

The two slipped under the covers, ignoring the still present stain. Legosi wrapped himself around the deer as the big spoon, the position they most often found themselves in it seemed when Louis' antlers weren't present. It was definitely an exciting feeling for the deer, in that it was extremely intimate and also triggered his instincts in a way that made it exciting.

Louis sighed, affectionately, curling up, and looking at his phone. "Party food..."

"Something with peanut butter," Legosi all but whispered in his ear, making it flick.

The deer pursed his lips. "Mm...Not sure how many canines will be there."

"A lot of animals like peanut butter," the dog pointed out.

"What if I don't?"

"You liked those peanut butter bars Jack made."

"What if I lied?"

"...D-did you?"

"No, I like peanut butter."

"...But you don't want to make something using it?"

"Legosi, I was just messing around."

"Hmph." Legosi wrapped himself around Louis even more, letting their legs pretzel together while his arms crossed across the deer's chest, bringing his hands just under his underarms. That canine nose went right into the crook of the cervid's neck.

Louis grinned as he kept swiping through the internet. "But still it has to serve more than two animals."

"Were you thinking dessert or...not dessert?"

"I'm really not sure. Whatever I come up with, I guess. It could be a pancake party. Those are easy to make, even though I'd have to be making them all day and have somewhere to put them and...yeah."

"That seems too difficult, hon." Legosi pointed out what Louis already figured out.

"Yes, that was my point."

Legosi watched as Louis tapped on another article and scrolled through the author's verbose and meaningless intro. "I wonder when animals first started to learn to cook..."

"You wonder a lot of things," Louis said. "The thing I wonder about the most is who decided to call milk milk."

"That could be said about any word," his mate mused. "Or why your name is Louis."

"I actually really like my name, even if it was given to me by Oguma. It's better than Number 4."

Louis could feel Legosi nod behind him. "I never asked about my name. Maybe grandpa would know."

"Perhaps. Name origins are interesting. I wonder where we should go for our honeymoon."

Legosi nearly sputtered. "Wh-what's with that subject change?"

"I've been thinking about it a lot."

"Well...money will be a factor." The carnivore shifted slightly to prevent his arm from falling asleep. "Money and...laws."

"Don't remind me."

"Sorry, um..." Legosi's large hands rubbed Louis' arms as he continued to scroll through recipes. "It'd be nice going to a beach resort."

"Beach, huh?" Louis smiled. "Beach..."

"I like the water. Canines tend to. Plus, it'd be nice and relaxing. Not to mention pretty."

"Nothing is as pretty as canines."

Legosi made an 'mm' sound, but the movement of the blanket made it clear that his tail was once again wagging.

"Beach, though. That would be really pretty. Sex on the beach."

The wolf cleared his throat. "I-I don't think that's allowed."

"Sand would get in places sand shouldn't be." Louis made a face.

"That, too."

"But maybe if we put a blanket down and one of us rode the other..."

"L-Louis! Illegal!"

"Riding isn't illegal! It's probably easy!"

"No, that's a sex thing! I know because my friends would talk about it!" Legosi exclaimed.

"Why do your friends talk about it?"

"Because they talk about sex a lot. Lots of boys do."

"I've never met anyone who talked about it that much," Louis mumbled. "...Before Pina and Bill."

"And before that, you really...didn't talk to anyone, except me." Legosi grew quiet at the end of the sentence, hoping he didn't make things awkward.

"...True."

The silence continued. Louis was scrolling through the recipes still and Legosi couldn't get the idea of riding Louis out of his head.

The little spoon's ears perked after a moment. "Uh...Legosi?"

"Yeah?"

"I didn't really get the idea of riding stuck in your head, did I?"

"...How did you know?"

"I can feel it."

The wolf just then realized his position as big spoon and what it had caused. "Oh...yeah..."

"You can squeeze me tighter anyway," Louis whispered, still scrolling through his phone.

"...Don't wanna hurt you." Regardless, Legosi still squeezed him tighter.

"Hurt me?"

"I feel like I'm already holding you pretty tight."

The buck scooted back into him and curled up more. "Being held like this is something I never used to have."

"I know. We have a few weeks of this before your antlers come back."

"Mmmm...so then I'm taking full advantage of it," he cooed.

"Smart deer."

"Maybe I'm just horny. Oh wait, I can't be. I don't have any antlers! Ahaha!"

"So funny," Legosi said, humorlessly. "Let's get back to finding something for you to make."

"Aw, you didn't like my joke?"

"I love your jokes, Lou." A kiss.

"I'm probably trying too hard."

"Robot Louis still hasn't downloaded the joke update?"

"He can't download it himself, that's a manual thing."

"I see." Legosi's eyes followed the pictures as they passed by. "Oh, did that have eggs?"

Louis went back to it. "Looks like it does."

The dog licked his lips with his long tongue. "Herbivores aren't too fond of eggs, are they?"

"I enjoy them," Louis responded. "I don't know how many herbivores will be at this party, though."

"Yeah. That's the whole purpose of the party." The wolf made a thoughtful noise. "Should we invite our Cherryton friends?"

"No, that might distract from the goal which is to meet new residents. I mean, even just room 701 alone would be a lot."

"I guess so. I'll be staying next to you the whole time, then."

"You'd do that anyway," Louis laughed. "Even during the dance with all your friends..."

"So, we'll just tell everyone we're engaged, right? That'll be kind of scary, but also exciting." Legosi imagined the eyes of numerous animals upon them as they proudly declared their love and raised their hands to reveal their rings.

"No, let's tell them we're married."

Hearing that caused Legosi to feel an even stronger rush in his body. "W-we could..."

"Married just recently."

"...What if they ask us how we got married?"

"Then we say it was a lot of trouble but we did it."

"What's to stop us from saying we're married, anyway? It's just a word," Legosi observed, suddenly feeling very smart.

"What do you mean?"

"We could just tell everyone we meet that we're married. Not just the residents here. It's not like we'd get any of the societal benefits of marriage if it was official."

"What about...when we're alone?"

"We can be married, still. I still want a ceremony of course. And that beach resort honeymoon. But...if we want to be married then who's stopping us?"

Louis turned around in his arms. "Mm?"

Legosi licked his nose, tail wagging. "Hi!"

"Haha, hi. Go on with what you were saying."

"That we can be married without it being official?"

"You want to get married right now?"

The wolf blinked. "Ohh, you're saying it's special because we can't get it right away?"

"Well, no, it's special no matter what. I'm asking if that's what you're saying."

"It'd be nice to call you my husband...and for you to call me your husband," Legosi gave the deer one long lick from nose to forehead.

"I...already sort of consider you to be my husband. I mean, why wouldn't I if you're just going to be, eventually? I bet all fiancés do that."

"Ah, I guess I'm the only one then."

"I mean, I don't know if most fiances feel that way for each other. I like to think of you as my husband too." Legosi sighed, recalling the drama of just a few days ago. Was it okay to be talking like this so soon after?

"But, I'm nervous...We almost just destroyed this. Are we going too fast so soon?" It seemed Louis had been thinking the exact same thing.

"I think we should do what feels natural," the wolf answered.

"It does feel natural." He began stroking his cheek fur.

"Then I think it's okay."

"So...then...will you be my husband?" Louis blushed, huffing lightly.

The canine cracked a smile. "Yes."

"Then I now pronounce us husband and husband. You may kiss the deer."

Legosi took no hesitation, doing just that, holding the sides of his face gingerly as he ran his tongue against the deer's own tongue and flat teeth.

Louis exhaled out of his nose, his heart completely aflutter. Sure, it wasn't official by society's means, but who really cared about that? He was married! To a wolf! To Legosi. Finally.

After their passionate kiss that united them as spouses and eventually turned into a steamy make out, Louis pulled back and opened his eyes. "Curry."

Legosi's eyes fluttered open. "E-excuse me?"

"I'll make curry." It wasn't the best thing the deer could have said after that, but knowing Louis, it was just like him to say something like that.

Fortunately, the revelation seemed to excite the wolf. "Oooooh! Oh, that's really good, Lou! That's really good, honey!"

"You just married a very smart deer. I don't have to be drunk to know that," Louis grinned, confidently. "Even if I can act stupid, at times. Really stupid. Anyway, yes! Curry."

"Curry!" Legosi reiterated. Silence consumed them, however, when they realized something.

Louis blinked. "We don't have anything to make curry."

The wolf shook his head in confirmation, but then just as quickly nodded. "Oh, what about that money you said Oguma would send?"

"Well, sure, but I don't know when that will arrive. I don't even think we've been to the mailbox, yet."

"Can't he just transfer money to your account?" Legosi scratched his head.

"Uh...I guess he could do that, but what if he already sent it?"

"Um, you could...call him?" The carnivore immediately felt nervous at his own suggestion.

"...Ah." Louis put a hand to his forehead. "I could."

"Kinda weird...but you could..." Legosi shuffled closer to him. "What did you tell him...about us?"

"I told him we broke up...That's why he was still going to send you money because I felt...bad about leaving you here."

Legosi stiffened at the mention. "Well...guess you should tell him that we're together still."

"And married," his husband added.

"Unless that'll make him not send money...then don't tell him."

"How am I supposed to know what he'll do?"

The wolf clung tighter. "I don't know. It depends on how badly you want to make food for the party, I guess."

"Are you having second thoughts about calling him?" Louis asked.

"I don't know. I'm just...nervous. Remember what I said about wanting him to approve of me? It's probably that."

"Well, he has to approve of you or I'll disown him, even if he wants to get better."

"Mmm, and we should probably find out about this money situation sooner rather than later," the wolf concluded.

"Okay, then I'll call him," Louis said, grabbing his phone. "I just hope he isn't busy."

Legosi simply squeezed tighter, watching the screen.

The deer dialed his adoptive father, having to go through his secretary before reaching the stag. "Hello? Louis?"

"Hello, father. How are you?"

"Busy, as usual. I can set aside some time, though. Are you okay?" Oguma actually sounded concerned, for once.

"I'm fine. Great, actually," Louis smiled.

"Oh, really? Where are you staying? I honestly thought you'd come here after the hospital."

"Haha...No. I'm actually at home with Legosi. We got back together."

"Oh?"

"And..." Got married. "We're okay now. We still need financial help, though, if that's okay...?" The young deer bit his lip.

"I already said I'd help you, Louis."

"Well, Legosi and I are throwing a party at the condo so we can meet our neighbors and we...need supplies..."

"Oh. How much do you need?"

"However much is fine with us. Just send it to my account."

"I'll have someone get on that right away. When are you coming for dinner?"

"We can plan that at another time. I'll make sure I call you."

"Ok. Be careful, Louis. Don't make any rash decisions you'll regret later."

Louis sighed. "I know. I won't. I'll talk to you later."

"Alright."

Louis hung up, setting the phone down, slowly. Even though they were getting better, it was still hard to talk to Oguma. He hoped it wouldn't always be that way.

Legosi shifted behind him. "Oh...that was quick."

"He's a busy man. Plus, I don't like the feeling I get when I talk to him."

"Ah...that makes sense. I hope that dinner with him isn't too bad."

"You'll be there, at least. You can hold my hand under the table if I get upset."

"So...another shopping trip is in store. Tomorrow?" Legosi punctuated the question with a lick, as he couldn't help himself.

"That's the last day we have," Louis chuckled.