Chapter 29 - Am I?

Bill looked up at the house before them. He gulped. He was going to be in a house full of herbivores. How could he handle it without fucking it up? He stood still while his boyfriend walked ahead of him.

Pina turned around, noticing that he was lagging behind. He crouched down and motioned with his hand. "C'mon, kitty. Pspspsps! The sooner we get this over with, the better."

"It's only two days..." Bill said. "I'm just going to stick out there, aren't I?"

"At first, but you might get used to it." The sheep stood back up and his smile disappeared. "We can spend as much time in my room as possible, don't worry. We haven't had much time to just chill and watch shit since segregation, so this will be nice."

"We haven't had much time together at all since segregation, besides when we sneak out to the fountain..."

The herbivore giggled. "God those nights are exciting." He turned to the door, feeling his heart rate increase immediately. "Alright, you ready?"

"Y-yeah, I guess..." Bill scratched behind his neck, stepping forward once more.

"And remember: I didn't tell them that I headed a murder investigation. All they know is I got kidnapped randomly. So, stick with that story." Pina pat his bicep.

"Uh...okay and what else?"

"They're kinda racist. Like the shit they listen to and watch is racist, but they, themselves, always try to seem civil. Maybe them inviting you here, despite being a carnivore, is going to be a way of them saying 'well, our son is friends with a carnivore so that gives us a free pass to say whatever we like!'." Pina sighed again and pulled Bill in for a side hug. "I'm just saying try not to take what they might say personally."

"Oh...okay..." He frowned. So it's wouldn't be a fun trip like he had hoped.

"So, ready now? I'm not gonna ring that doorbell until you're ready."

"I'm never going to be ready."

"You can go back if you're really uncomfortable." The proposal should have been a taunt from the usually cocky sheep, but from the look Pina was giving him, he could tell he was actually serious.

"No...I should really get over this. I'm a strong tiger, right? I can do this."

Pina pat him again. "You can do it. I'll leave the doorbell ringing to you."

Bill quickly reached forward and rung the bell twice.

Here we go.

Pina let his hand linger on Bill for a few seconds before dropping it off. The sound of footsteps thudded on the other side of the door. There was a beat before it opened, revealing an older looking dall sheep with large horns. His small eyes laid behind a pair of glasses, scrutinizing the pair for a moment.

He grinned. "Pina! Welcome home. We've been so excited to see you." He opened his arms for a hug, ignoring Bill for the time being.

Pina awkwardly moved forward, walking into the hug. "Hey, dad."

"Terzo? Who's at the door?" a woman's voice called out from inside.

"It's Pina! He's here a little earlier than you predicted, dear!"

Soon, the other sheep appeared, and it was clear whose features Pina inherited. "Welcome home, sweetie." She rested a hand on his shoulder before looking up at Bill. A flash of surprise showed on her face before the smile was back. "Oh, and this is the classmate you told us about?"

Bill raised a hand, smiling, but not showing his teeth. He wanted to make the best first impression he could. "U-uh, hello, ma'am. My name's Bill. It's nice to meet you!"

She bowed, slightly. "I'm Gianna, and this is my husband, Terzo."

The tiger bowed as well. "Nice to meet you, Terzo-san."

The older male sheep grinned behind his glasses. "Come inside, both of you." He stepped to the side, looking at Gianna with a "let's be on our guard" look.

Pina offered Bill a sheepish smile before entering. Their house was middle class, yet on the smaller side. It had all the usual furnishings of a standard home, but it still seemed a bit empty. The first thing Bill thought was that the furniture looked too small for him.

The sheep couple also seemed to notice as they took their seats in the living area. Bill felt like he was taking a test. Pina soon entered, having lagged behind taking his boots off. He looked around the room, noticing his parents had taken up the love seat, leaving only two armchairs on either side of it. He hesitated.

Bill, almost too anxious to keep standing, took a seat, resting his arms on the arms of it. His head turned to his boyfriend, who was the only one standing at that point.

Gianna eyed the feline's hands warily before glancing over to Pina. "Oh, Pina, dear! What did you do to your jeans?"

The young sheep just gawked at her. "They...come like this, mom."

"But you look like a punk! Terzo, doesn't he look like a punk?"

Bill raised a brow. "You've never heard of ripped jeans before?"

The whole room paused, and Pina's throat clenched.

"...Of course I have! But that's no clothes a sheep should wear! It would be more your style, Bill." Gianna's eyes, still so eerily similar to her son's, looked the tiger up and down. "It's just a shame that you dress nicer than him." She squinted harder, reading the tiger's hoodie. "What is...Catsune Mewku...?"

As if a switch had been flicked, Bill's eye dilated and his tail swayed back and forth in excitement. "Oh, she's a virtual idol who sings using segmented voice clips that are autotuned to create a song! Her whole library is vast and full of so many different genres! She puts on concerts where her hologram is beamed on stage and I still haven't gone to one, but I'm still a big fan! She really showcases what the future of music might be like!"

The whole time Bill spoke, Pina just watched his parents' faces morph in different stages of confusion. He cringed so hard he remained immobile.

The carnivore grinned more, almost letting his fangs show. "I can play you something by her, if you like!"

"So...is she real?" Pina's mom ventured, paying no mind to what Bill had said.

"Nah, she's like this animated goddess." He got a shine in his eyes. "We can only hope that she becomes real someday!"

"Uh...huh." Gianna turned to Pina again. "Pina, take a seat."

He complied, sitting across from Bill, but still so far away.

Terzo rubbed his hands together. "Well, that's very interesting, young man. So...how is school?"

Bill scratched his cheek. "Ah...It's...different." Damn segregation. "Yeah, ever since herbivores and carnivores had to be separated there, it's been a lot different."

His boyfriend's father raised a brow. "We heard about that. It was a smart decision."

Bill wanted to argue back, but he just sunk into the chair more.

Pina did the same while his mom continued. "I know! I mean, they really aren't doing enough! Pina still got kidnapped by that one student!" She turned to Bill with a smile on her face. "Oh, we're so grateful for what you did for him! It was very brave of you!"

"Well, he's my friend. Carnivore or not, I couldn't just let him get eaten! Sorry I didn't recover all of him, though..."

Pina bit his lip. Oh my god, Bill shut up, shut up, shut up!

Terzo groaned. "Well...You did what you could, son. That's all we could ask of you."

Bill looked to the side, leaning his head on his hand. "He still looks pretty cool with it, though, right? Looking on the bright side and stuff."

Pina couldn't help but smile. He lifted his right leg up to rest on his knee. "Yeah, having a detachable leg has its perks."

His parents just glanced nervously at it. Gianna turned back to the tiger. "So, Bill. Any plans for after graduation?"

The tiger was reminded of what he wanted to talk to Pina about. "Yeah." It was all he could offer.

Terzo inquired further. "Like...?"

Bill shrugged.

"Pina says you're in the drama club. You're an actor like him?" Gianna offered.

"I am. Not as good. Your son is very talented." He wiggled his legs a little. "I hope he becomes a star one day."

Terzo nodded. "Oh! We think the same thing! Imagine his face on billboards out there!"

The tiger grinned. "That would be awesome. He has a very pretty face for it. Erm...In a he could be famous way."

"Which is why he should dress more nicely." Gianna pouted like a child.

"Uh...Yeah," Bill blinked.

Pina scoffed. "Do you see the things models wear? It doesn't matter what the article is, rather how you make it look."

Terzo shook his head. "I think you'd be more noticeable if you just tried a little harder, that's all."

Instead of a usual smart quip from the sheep, he just leaned his face onto his hand and looked away. He started to bounce his knee.

Bill looked at his boyfriend, then at the parents. "Actually, Pina wears whatever is in. It makes you more noticeable and popular, and he is!"

Pina turned his head back to them, his smile returning. "...When we're not in school uniforms all the time. Those things are so stifling. Not to say I don't look great in it."

"You look great in everything," Bill smiled. "Actually, it doesn't matter what you wear, you're noticeable by the lovely looks you got from your beautiful mom."

Terzo looked at him, skeptically, but only subtly.

"Oh!" Gianna giggled, pretending to fan herself. "Flattery won't get you anywhere, Bill! I only like sheep." She stood up, heading for the kitchen. "I guess I should start dinner up. Pina, why don't you show your friend around?"

"Gladly." Pina practically sprung off his chair and in a blink, he was next to Bill.

The tiger's eyes widened. "I-I wasn't trying anything, ma'am. You're married!"

She had already exited the room by the time Bill's blubbering started. Pina looked down at him and whispered: "She's joking."

"Oh...okay."

Terzo had followed his wife into the kitchen, leaving the two alone.

Pina grabbed Bill's big forearm with both of his hands and tried to hoist him up. "C'mon, let's go."

The cat rose, looking at his boyfriend. Am I doing well? Am I making a good impression? Am I intimidating to them? Am I acting like a nice idiot in front of my boyfriend?

Once Bill was standing, Pina let go of his arm and lead the way to his room. It was pretty barren, considering he took most of his stuff with him to Cherryton. He shut the door behind them and exhaled deeply.

The feline scratched the back of his neck again. "So...uh...Do they like me?"

"You're on dad's radar while mom is trying to disarm you with humor. Overall you're in neutral territory." Pina walked over and wrapped his arms around Bill's broad chest. "But...they'll see you're a sweet little kitten soon enough...I hope..."

"M-me too..." The large animal looked down into his eyes. "I...don't think they care about Catsune Mewku, heh."

"Oh, they thought you were talking Seaspeak, hon." The sheep brought a finger up to his fuzzy cheek.

"Oh..."

"The only music they know are oldies. Just like them. Old fucks. Think me wearing torn jeans is a sin or something." Pina kicked at the floor.

"I love your jeans!"

"I know you do." Pina laughed. "I can't imagine what they'd think if they saw me wearing my dress or my makeup. Hell, I didn't even paint my nails because of this trip..." He looked at them sadly.

"And that's okay," Bill sighed. "I filed my claws down for this trip."

"I know..." He frowned. "But I wasn't!"

"I know, I know!" The sheep assured. "I know you're trying your best. My parents are just...yeah." He flipped some wool out of his eyes.

The feline moved, sitting down slowly on the bed and causing it to squeak as he did so. "Mm."

"Oh yeah, better break in the bed, so it gets used to you." Pina sat behind him with his chest pressed against his back. "Regardless...I'm really happy you're here."

"You are?" The cat's ear twitched. "Cuz I've been freaking out the whole time..."

"Oh, no I'm not happy that you're here, like, with my parents. I'm just selfish and glad that you're here with me, cuz...yeah."

"Well, I wouldn't wanna be with anyone else."

"Oh yeah? What if a sheep that looked and acted just like me appeared and they had stripes?"

"Eh, stripes are okay. I'm more into guys with pretty wool named Pina who have abusive parents and lost their brother and like wearing dresses and painting their nails and stuff!"

"Sounds sexy," Pina crooned, tickling under Bill's chin. "Introduce us sometime."

"Sorry. He's mine."

"Dang. Oh well. Already dating the cutest guy on Earth." Pina kissed his cheek.

Bill leaned back into him. "What about Louis?"

"What about him?"

"Isn't he cuter?"

"No way! He's pretty, handsome, and mysterious looking, but he's got nothing on your rugged, yet cute look. Plus, these muscles..." The herbivore groped Bill's pecs.

The feline chuckled. "I know how much you like them. Your hands always feel nice. Gives me motivation to keep them."

"Best pair of tits I've ever groped!" Pina declared.

"Ha...okay. So what now?"

"Now...we kill time until dinner, I guess. Or-"

A knock on the door caused Pina to let go of Bill and fall onto the bed.

"Pina? Are you okay in there?"

"F-fine, mom!"

"Did you show Bill where he'd be staying?"

"Not yet."

"Well, you should! I made the bed up just for him." The sound of footsteps leaving caused Pina to breathe out in relief.

Bill groaned. "All weekend..."

The herbivore nudged him with his foot in encouragement. "We're sneaky! We can do it."

"Its worth it for you. I won't fuck it up this time."

"Yep, cuz I won't let you." Pina moved up so his head was on the pillow, splaying his body across the bed. He patted his chest to beckon Bill over. "Anyway, wanna find a series to spend the whole time watching and hiding from my parents?"

"I think I'd rather just lay here..." Bill shifted and rested his head and a hand on Pina's chest, breathing gently.

The sheep brought an arm around him, rubbing lovingly. "Okay. Wanna talk?"

"About?"

"Dunno. Wasn't there something you wanted to talk about on the train?"

"You were fidgeting after we declared our love to each other like gayboys. I can read you like a book, y'know?"

"Ugh. Well, it's not important."

"Oh? Won't you get bored just laying here without talking."

"How could I? I'm laying here with you. Sorry if that makes me a gayboy."

"I'll never forgive you," Pina said in a very serious tone.

"Okay..."

The sheep kissed the soft fur on the top of Bill's head. "...So, what are you going to do with yourself after you graduate? Like, even I'm curious because you never talk about it."

"Eh...Probably nothing like what you're going to do."

"And what am I gonna do?"

"I dunno! Probably nothing involving me!"

Pina stiffened, slightly. "...You really think I'm going to just dump you after high school?"

"There's a whole year between us! The school is segregated. We barely get to see one another. You're way better and gonna be way more successful than I could ever be! I think about it all the time..."

Pina stayed silent, simply listening to his boyfriend rant.

"I just...There's not a place for me in your future. I can't reach out and ask you to drop out and run away with me and have a fantasy life because that isn't realistic. You want to graduate and be someone, while I stay behind and become...no one."

"...Hey, Billy? Look at me."

"No...I can't..."

"Please look at me."

The tiger sighed and shifted his head, chin on Pina's pecs.

Instead of saying anything, the sheep moved forward and kissed him tenderly on the lips. No sloppy or lusty makeout like usual for them.

Bill kissed back, his heartbeat increasing. It was not too short, but not too long, either.

Eventually, the kiss broke with a small 'smack' sound, and Pina pressed their foreheads together. "I don't know where you get this big idea that I have my life figured out, but I can assure you I sure as fuck don't. I'm flying by the seat of my pants and I want you here with me. Remember, that I'm the one that came onto you."

"But...that was because that's what you do..."

Pina smiled. "What do I do?"

"Flirt!"

"This is just how you acted that night, too. So insecure that I didn't really like you." He sighed, nestling into Bill even further. "What do I have to do to make you understand that I love you and want to stay with you?"

"Drop out with me and leave. I didn't want to admit it, but I keep thinking about it! We can't be happy if we're separated all the time...Look at Louis and Legosi! And we don't have the problems that will make us break up like they did!"

"Okay. Do you have a plan, though?" Pina asked, simply.

"I was thinking we could ask Louis and Legosi if they know anywhere we could stay..."

"Anywhere works, I just wanna be with you so you don't leave..."

"I really won't leave." Pina held a pinky up. "Prooomise."

Bill just squeezed him tighter.

The herbivore squeezed back. "I got you, kitty, I got you." He rubbed, caressed, and kissed his boyfriend. He really hated seeing him like this, but Bill and depression seemed to go hand in hand lately.

The cat purred as he was given affection. "Mm, okay."

Pina decided to try and get his mind off of things. "So...if you could have any job at all...living with me, of course...what would you do?"

"I dunno, I can't see myself working anywhere..." Bill sighed again. "I can't even imagine it..."

"So I'd be bringing in the dough all alone, huh?" Pina prodded his cheek with a finger. "I think being a model would work. Don't need an education for that, do you?"

"I dunno. And no! I'd find a job! I just...don't know what it would be..."

"You could be a model too. Model, couple~"

"I'm not hot enough for that! I got scars..."

"Sexy scars!"

Bill's tail went limp. "I guess..."

"You guess, while I know." Pina reached down and grabbed his mate's tail, moving his hand through it as he'd seen Louis do with Legosi.

The cat purred more. "Can't we just stay here all weekend and pretend it's our hotel room?"

"Sure. I'll hire some deep web assassins to take out my parents. I'll get Kai on the line for that."

"Haha, you wouldn't…" A pause. "I could never take you to meet my family."

Pina grew quiet. "...Yeah...walk me through what would happen, anyway."

"They wouldn't even let me. They know we're dating and don't support it...They also would tease me about eating you the whole fucking time...Plus, all my siblings..."

"I bet I could charm them if I met them. I mean, you hated my guts when you met me but I charmed my way into your heart~"

"And I'm happy that's what went down. I was an idiot back then. Thought I was so strong..."

Pina laughed. His soft, angelic laugh. "I was a bitch, too. Just trying to get a rise out of all the carnivores."

"Only to catch a killer!"

"Yeah, but I won't lie when I say it gave me a bit of a thrill, too. Plus I loved all the attention," the sheep admitted.

"Well, now you have my attention and no one else's. Unless Louis is interested, but I dunno, probably not since he's married. Love is weird."

Pina laughed again. "That reminds me: what was that dream you had about me and Legosi?"

"What? I told you. You were banging him."

"Yeah? Anything else?"

"You were both into it..."

"Position?"

"You were riding him. My favorite. I had a nice look from the back. It's too bad I can't watch us do it, but then again, I get to see you from my favorite angle."

"Hmm, sounds interesting. Legosi's too much of a bottom for that in real life, though." He jostled his tiger. "That reminds me, when do you think I'll get a chance to explore between those cheeks of yours?"

Bill cleared his throat. "When we're not at your parent's house, that's for sure."

"I know, I know! Probably shouldn't talk about that too much before we get carried away..." Despite saying this, Pina licked Bill's ear.

The tiger's hands went to his shoulders, rubbing gently. He did this often. "Yeah...I guess you're right. Even though you got me thinkin' about it.."

Pina's voice became that of a stereotypical old monk. "Cleanse your mind, Bill-san! Hear the ocean waves break apart on the rocky shores as your mind journeys within itself. Free yourself of all thoughts lewd and otherwise."

"It's hard..." He buried his face in his neck.

"'Hard' is just a worldly construct. Believe it so, and it can become soft...astral project into the sun..." Pina ran out of ideas for that bit.

"I didn't mean my dick! I meant not thinking about it!"

His boyfriend returned to normal. "I wonder if your extreme horniness has anything to do with your meat craving..."

Bill squeezed him tighter. "Maybe you're just really fucking hot..."

"Maybe~"

"Well, when this is over, I'll let you be on top."

Pina curled around him. "Thanks a ton."

"Great, now I gotta be nervous about that, too..."

"Nothing to be scared of, kitty. I mean I do it all the time, right? And so does Legosi. You're tougher than Legosi, right?"

"Totally! Though, guy can get wild."

"Only when he's fighting some crazy animal." Pina cleared his throat. "Hey...do you think it's weird that...some part of me wants to visit Riz in juvie?"

"You...do?" Bill's head lifted. "Because you feel bad for him?"

Pina shrugged. "Maybe. Mostly I just want to show him that I survived. That he couldn't kill me. That I refuse to be taken down by him...I dunno it sounds kind of shallow when I say it."

"Then you should do it, babe. I mean...You have every right to. Show him that prosthetic leg."

"Yeah! I lived, bitch!" Pina pumped a hand in the air.

"Shhh! You don't want your parents hearing you!"

The sheep drooped down. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I really hope they just leave us be most of the time, but I just know they're gonna keep checking to make sure you haven't killed me."

"Everyone is always so skeptical of me..."

"Even though you're a big softyyyy." Pina tugged on his ears and wiggled them.

"Yeah...I am pretty hungry, though...Is your mom a good cook?"

"What mom isn't?"

"I bet Legosi's mom isn't. But I dunno, he never talks about her."

The sheep giggled. "That's random! What makes you think she isn't?"

"I dunno, he just seems like the animal to have a mom who isn't good at cooking! I have a feeling his dad is dead, for some reason."

"Hmm...it does only seem like he has his grandfather, though. Y'know, when Louis got out of the hospital, he went to stay with him for a bit?"

"Really? Are they that close? Wow."

"I guess so." Pina rubbed Bill's chest. "Y'know, I was gonna visit him there, but he canceled and I guess got back with Legosi."

"Oh my god, what if you guys got closer when you did?"

"I kinda thought that might happen. I wasn't sure what to think. I was kind of excited." It felt weird to just be open about this with Bill, but now that Pina knew it was a weird kink for him it became funny.

"You guys might have started dating..."

"I would have told you, still. I wouldn't wanna keep something like that a secret from you."

"Poor Legosi, though..."

"Y-yeah, that's the main issue with the whole thing. But nah, I'm really happy for them. When they said they were married...I was surprised but also not cuz that's just like them."

"Yeah, I didn't put it past them to do something like that. Like, say they're married without actually being legally married?" Pina snorted. "It's so on brand for Legosi."

Bill opened his mouth to speak, but then the sounds of returning footsteps made his ear twitch.

A knock on the door. "Boys? Food's ready. Did you show Bill his room?"

Pina rolled his eyes. "Yes, I did."

The tiger got off his mate. "Thank you for making the bed, Gianna-san! We'll be right out!"

The sheep stood up and stretched, making cute vocalizations. "Alright, meal time with the folks. We got this. Just gotta not be gayboys."

Bill got up as well. "I hope I don't vomit or make a hairball at any point." They left the room.