Chapter 42 - Boy's Night 8: The Original Boys

Legosi, Louis, Dom, and Kai stepped into the Hidden Condo's lobby, having lost the company of Pina and Bill due to them wanting some time to themselves. The four walked toward the hallway that housed the flight of stairs when the familiar woodpecker behind the desk caught sight of them.

"Oh, more friends, huh? You guys are pretty popular."

"I guess so. How are you, Morgane?" Louis grinned.

"I'm doing alright! I actually have the weekend off, if you can believe it." Her eyes flitted to Dom and her entire body shot up. "Oh. My. GOD! YOUR DRESS IS SO PRETTY!"

Dom gasped. "Oh? Really? Why thank you! My boyfriend and I worked hard on it."

Kai waved. "Hi, that's me."

"Do you two run a business?"

"A business?" Dom blinked.

"Oh, no this was for a school project for him," Kai clarified.

"Well, if you two would be interested in designing me something, get in touch with these two so they can tell me."

The blue bird looked at Kai, laughing. "Yet another project on our plate!"

"Kai and Dom." The mongoose gave a little wave to himself and his boyfriend.

"Any plans for this weekend?" Louis questioned with a head tilt.

"Just spending time with Pierre, my boyfriend. We have a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle to complete."

"Legosi and I are going to have dinner with my father and then our sheep friend is going to show me some music he likes. It's gonna be a nice weekend, hopefully. I hope you have a good time."

"Oh, I will! You do the same!" Their receptionist waved them off as they started the long journey up the stairs.

"So, as you can see, it's a little rundown," Louis sighed. "But it's what we could afford."

Dom's head moved this way and that. "Huh."

"We met a lot of the neighbors, and maybe one day we'll try and get together and fix up the place," Legosi said with a tinge of hope in his voice. Finally, they made it to the fifth floor.

They walked down the hall and stood outside of room 504. "So this it," Louis gestured. "Our little home."

Kai looked up at him. "Does the door open?"

"No, it's stuck shut, obviously. We just sleep on the ground out here."

"Some prankster glued around the border," Legosi said, deadpan.

"Okay, shut up and just let us in," Kai frowned.

Legosi fumbled in his pockets before turning to Louis. "Oh, I gave you the key, right?"

"Yep." He fished it out of his pocket and opened the door into their nice clean home. "Make yourselves comfortable."

Kai and Dom walked in, taking the whole thing in.

Legosi scratched the back of his neck as the two guests remained silent. "We know it's not much, but it's home."

The small carnivore turned to him. "You guys did really great with this place! Really!"

Dom put his hands on his hips. "How does Legosi even fit in here? It's so small!"

The big wolf stood in the middle of the room and stretched his arms out. "I fit!"

Louis was by his side, wrapping his arms around him. "And belong."

Dom smiled. "D'aww. Well, may we sit on the couch?"

"Sure." Legosi watched as Dom and Kai lowered themselves onto it. "Want to do anything in particular or are we just hanging out?"

"Well...All night, I've been waiting to ask you...What happened to your antlers, Louis? There's no way they wouldn't be back by now," said Dom.

The deer blinked. "Ah..."

Legosi swallowed. This story didn't get any easier to tell.

"Dear, will you pull out the futon so we can sit on it?"

"Uh, okay."

The wolf hauled the thing out, making sure the blanket covered the bloodstain once it was unfurled.

The couple sat down, Louis exhaling. "Ugh...We just went over this with Haru yesterday."

Legosi laid his head in the deer's lap. "Well, here's what happened..."

Dom and Kai's beak and mouth hung open, respectively, after the tale had finished, and Louis hadn't even gotten into anything about Ichi.

"That's...wow..." the bird blinked. "I'm sorry that happened to you, guys."

Louis raised a hand. "We've heard that enough. Like I keep saying, it's over now."

Kai leaned forward. "Well, not really. I'm glad to hear about your dad and him paying for therapy, though. Just be mindful of each other and talk!"

Legosi chuckled at being lectured by the mongoose. "We are. We don't keep secrets from each other anymore."

"Yeah..." Louis thought for a moment. "See Kai! You aren't the only one with issues!"

"Yeah..." Kai looked down at his feet. "It's hard having to hear a couple like you go through something like that. One of you should have texted me, or something."

"What could you have done?"

The mongoose flinched. "I dunno! We're...friends..."

"I just...didn't think of it, honestly," Louis shook his head. "There was a lot going on." His head moved and he looked down at his husband.

"I didn't talk to anyone except Sebun-san, our neighbor, and Pina, who came over to check on me."

The deer's hand moved to stroke his cheek. "So, yeah, therapy is what's next for the both of us."

"That's good." Kai snuggled up to Dom. "Good to see you both willing to get help."

"You got pretty sensitive back there at the spring, Kai," Louis said.

Kai waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, I know."

"No, no. It's ok. I just...I'm glad you trust us enough to be vulnerable like that."

The mongoose fiddled with his boyfriend's arm feathers. "I dunno, I guess it had something to do with the relaxation and us being all naked and open like that..."

"Now you know why me and Legosi do it almost any time we can. Even after you leave." At this, Legosi got a little deer smile.

The wolf reached up and traced his thumb across it. "Well, there are other reasons we like being nude for each other."

Kai coughed. "Legosi? Didn't expect you to make a comment like that..."

Legosi turned to him with his ears pinned. "I mean...we do it because we think each other's body is beautiful..."

"More than beautiful..." Louis mumbled.

Kai turned to Dom. "Um, that was the first time I saw your tail feathers. They were...gorgeous."

The bird grabbed his hand. "And that was the first time I saw your cute little butt, which was also very pretty."

The little carnivore's fur puffed up and his eyes widened. Everyone in the room thought he was going to unleash a Kai-style outburst, but instead, he just blushed and said, "Ah...thanks..."

That's when Dom pulled him against him, kissing his head. "You're really coming into your own, Kai. When we met, you would have never come into the springs with us."

Louis nodded. "We really should hang out more..."

"It did start out with just four, after all," Legosi reminded them.

"We're the original boys," Dom chuckled.

Legosi sat up and looked around. "Did we bring any of the board games with us, hon?"

"We brought Commander and Army," Louis explained, still rubbing his cheek. "Do you think after being in a real battle we'll be any better?"

"Oh wow. The game that brought about the creation of Pina and Bill as an item." Kai rubbed his head at the prospect.

Legosi turned to him. "You were the one that suggested the prank call to Pina posing as Bill. So in a way, you were the one that created it."

Kai's eyes went wide. "I...um...yeah...actually..."

Dom clapped. "Woo! Go, Kai!"

"I wonder if they would have gotten together eventually without that push. I mean, look how close they are..." Legosi pondered as his tail whapped against the futon. "Me and Louis sometimes think of other ways our relationship could have started. Do you guys do that?"

Kai looked at Dom. "Uh, no."

The peafowl tilted his head. "Like roleplay?"

Legosi cocked his head. "Uh, not really? We just kind of talk about it..."

Louis nodded. "And sometimes get into it."

"Sounds like roleplay," Kai mumbled.

"So maybe it's roleplay," Louis shrugged. "I'm sure you've done a fair bit of roleplay, right Kai?"

"Yeah, when I used to be an actor. That's just roleplay."

"See? It's just acting," the buck laughed softly. "And we have fun with it. It's like falling in love all over again."

"We were in college in the last one." Legosi grinned.

Kai laughed. "The most fantastical thing about that scenario is the two of you getting into college after dropping out of high school."

"Well, obviously we didn't drop high school at that point. We didn't even know each other yet."

"Wow, so you got really into it, huh?"

Legosi looked up shyly. "Yeah. It was interesting. I felt like I was living in that other Legosi's shoes."

"Which Legosi is sexier, though?" Louis teased.

"Well, there wasn't as much drama and violence in that story, so I guess it depends on if you like me with scars or without..."

"What! No! It was a joke! I like you any way you are."

"Except if I got really buff like Bill," the wolf laughed and gently pushed on Louis' face.

"...Maybe." Louis pushed back.

"So," Kai ventured. "We gonna do anything?"

"Mmm...Maybe we are," the deer joked, a half lidded-gaze toward his husband.

"Guys, c'mon," Kai sighed, everyone in the room noticing the lack of usual outburst.

Legosi shifted his head on Louis' lap to face the two. "I like just talking."

The buck shoved him. "Aw, you didn't join in on my joke?"

The wolf's eyes closed. "Sleepy..."

Louis scoffed and sighed. "Well, snap out of it. We have a game to play."

Legosi yawned and sat up. "Alright, I'll get it." The canine pulled out the dusty box and set it on the ground. "Are we doing the truth or dare thing again?"

"Are we?" Dom asked. "Kai?"

"Heh, I'm always the leader, huh?" Kai thought for a moment. "I think we should just have a regular game."

Louis nodded. "It wouldn't be as fun without Pina, anyway."

"None of us can prank call him now anyway since he has all of our numbers," Kai said with a tinge of disappointment.

"Ahaha, yeah," Dom smiled. "Well. Let's set it up on the table and get to it."

Legosi's ears perked up, realizing last. "Oh...we won."

"Yeah, you won." Kai sighed and shrugged, turning to Dom. "We did our best. Wing me." He held his hand up.

Louis got up. "Ha! Ahahaha! In your face! Of course, we won! Hahaha!"

Legosi brought his large hands up to try and pull him back down. "Louis, I know you like to get like this over games but calm down before you hurt yourself."

"But! We won! We did it! We're the best, Legosi! I could dance, right now!"

The wolf smiled and stood up at the mention of dancing. And dance they did, spinning and shaking their hips next to the table while Kai and Dom rolled their eyes.

The bird crossed his arms. "Sore winners, these two. Where was that energy all night, Legosi?"

The dog looked behind him, tail wagging wildly. "Well, 'dance' just became one of those words that can get me up and going, I guess."

"Dance with us, you two!"

"Uh." Kai looked over at the peacock.

The bird got up. "We should play some Nikki. I wanna see if Bill has good taste."

Louis gasped. "Ooh! Good idea! What do you guys think?"

"Yeah, let's see what all the fuss is about." Kai slid off the chair and joined the other couple in the center of the room. Legosi moved the futon out of the way once again.

Louis got the songs ready on his phone. "Looks like Know Myself is the 5th song on the album. Okay...playing it...now." He pressed play and the music started.

The song began with a synth and a slow steady tempo, building up gradually. It began crescendoing and it almost sounded like Louis' phone was going to explode. Then the voice came in and the music was off running, a dancy beat replacing the one before. The deer was tapping his feet as he took in the song.

"Um, what kind of dance do we do for this?" Legosi asked.

Dom rubbed the bottom of his beak. "It's very jumpy music...So energetically?"

"This place will fall apart if Legosi dances energetically," Kai laughed, unknowingly bobbing his head to the tune at the same time.

Louis was following the head movements with his voice. "I don't know how to dance, really. Every time Legosi and I have done it, it's been as a couple. Sure, I dance alone but its...bad."

"We can start like this." Louis' hands were soon wrapped up in large, wolf hands. Legosi rolled from his heels to his toes in time with the music, waiting for Louis to add the next step.

The deer began moving a bit, blushing lightly. "Like this?"

Dom crossed his arms. "Legosi is taking the lead? Huh!"

The carnivore laughed. "I don't know!"

Kai found himself bobbing much like Legosi was. He knew it looked stupid. He knew he looked stupid. But after the day out they had, he found it hard to care. Soon, his simple movements became more fluid, moving up his legs and through his arms as he tried to let the music dictate his moves.

Or more accurately: he moved in a way he hoped would either impress Dom or cause him to tease him.

Legosi's eyes were drawn toward the movement, and he tried his best to mimic Kai's movements while also holding onto his deer.

"Oh, we're doing this now?" Louis grinned, moving along with the two carnivores.

Kai turned to the tall bird next to him while dipping and twisting his head with the help of his long neck. "C'mon, Domino! Show me what that neck can do!"

"Haha! Domino?"

"That is a new one, huh? Anyway, c'mon!"

"What if I'm having fun just watching you?"

"What would you say if I used that as an excuse not to dance?" Kai fired back.

"I probably would egg you on."

"Hopefully not literally."

"WOW."

Louis raised a brow. "Come on, Kai."

"Whaaat!" the mongoose cried.

Dom started moving his head, twitching a bit but not really dancing.

Unable to take the big bird's feet dragging anymore, Kai snatched his hands and began to swing them wildly.

The avian gasped at the sudden movement, finally moving along with him. "Geez, geez, okay, okay!"

"Get those wings moving!" Kai stomped his little sock-filled feet on the ground.

Now the group was moving their bodies, trying not to be too loud, but laughing all the same.

The song ended, interrupting the group with a loud and obnoxious advertisement which nearly made Legosi jump out of his fur. He threw his big arms around Louis and clutched him tight.

The deer yelped at the sudden motion. "Hey! Hey! Hey! It's okay, Legosi!"

Kai and Dom clutched each other laughing while the wolf recovered. "A-ah, yeah. It was just so sudden and loud!"

Louis rubbed the back of his fuzzy head. "It's okay, hon. I've got you."

Legosi shook his head quickly as if ridding himself of his previous fear. "Well, the song was nice at least."

The album continued and finally they got to Know Myself, each animal looking around when a slow and passionate song filled the room.

Legosi and Louis found themselves in a familiar position, hand in hand, and chests pressed close. Meanwhile, Kai and Dom were wondering how to make their vastly different bodies work.

"Usually when we slow dance you just wrap your arms around my waist..." Dom said, his eyes never leaving Kai's, who was blushing just at the contact alone.

"O-oh yeah, like at New Year's." The mongoose drew himself in, standing a little too close while hugging Dom for them to really move.

Nonetheless, the omnivore swayed anyway, sighing. He looked at what Louis and Legosi were doing.

They were stepping side to side with their hands still held together. Legosi lifted one of his hands to allow Louis to spin under him as they both laughed since it was a move easier done now that his antlers were gone.

Dom turned back to Kai, kneeling down. "Hey, Kai."

Kai froze and his fur stood on end. "Uh...yeah?"

"You know I love you, right?"

"Um...sure!"

"I mean it, Kai."

"Okay, but why are you kneeling?"

"So you take me seriously." His hands went to his shoulders. "I'm not talking about play love."

Kai gulped. "Yeah...yeah, okay."

"I'm trying tell you it's real love."

"Alright, alright! Yeah! Okay, I get it!" Kai nervously shifted in place, pulling slightly away from Dom but not enough to break the contact. Legosi and Louis stopped their dancing and watched in confusion.

"Kai...Come on. Stop being nervous."

"What do you want me to be?"

"Honest with me, I think."

"It's..." Kai brought his hands up to his head where he mussed up the fur around his ears. "...I don't know how to take it."

"Well, I mean it."

"I know and I don't know how to process it..."

"But why? It's true!"

"I dunno! I just look at myself and think, 'Oh, hey, there's Kai! Nobody can love him romantically because he's such a weird spaz.'" Kai's hands now ran down his face as he sighed.

"Don't think that! You're incredible! When we got together it was just an admiring crush but then...It grew."

"Alright," the mongoose nodded. "I know you guys had to comfort me earlier and I don't wanna repeat it. Besides you wouldn't still be here if you didn't want to."

"It's just me talking," Dom said. "I'm trying to show you."

Kai breathed out quickly through his nose and leaned forward, kissing Dom on his cheek easily with the bird's new height.

"You call that a kiss?"

"I call it a kiss when my boyfriend's mouth is a weapon!"

"My husband's mouth is a dangerous weapon and it's the best feeling ever," Louis interjected.

"Uhh." Kai looked back to Dom, whose face he now cupped in his hands. He leaned in again and put his mouth gently around his beak.

Sure it was a little weird, but it still meant a lot to them. The bird closed his eyes and took in every moment.

Kai pulled away after a bit, whispering, "Okay that was weird."

Dom frowned. "Aw, come on!"

"Y-you liked it?"

"I loved it! I love you!"

"I love you too, Dom, really. I feel like dating you was the beginning of me getting my act together."

The bird grabbed his hand. "I just get the feeling you doubt it..."

"Cuz my brain is fucked up! But I really am happy!" Kai said in an insisting tone.

Dom squeezed him. "Restart the song, Louis."

The deer was grinning, watching. He didn't move.

Kai snapped his head to him. "You heard the bird! Make with the music!"

He shook his head and restarted the song and the two couples clung onto each other, swaying and enjoying their partners.

Dom stroked Kai's head, softly. "I'm going to start being more affectionate now, okay?"

"Go ahead."

He rubbed up and down his back, slowly, speaking softly. "You deserve all of this, you know?"

Kai matched the rubbing with his own. "...Yeah."

"You deserve happiness and you deserve me. And I deserve you. And we deserve..."

"...An all-expenses-paid trip to the film set of 'Chainsaw Maniacs II'," Kai laughed, referencing a hilariously bad horror B-movie that had become an inside joke between the two of them.

"...Each other..." Dom frowned.

"Well, yeah that's what that trip implies."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Nothing, I'm being stupid and deflecting with jokes. Yes, we deserve this..."

"Sorry to get all serious on you. I just...Want you to understand how I feel about you!"

"I understand," Kai said, getting into the dance more." And it will be something we definitely talk about more."

"Thank you..." Dom tried the three words again. "I love you."

"I love you, too."