Chapter 64 - Walking on a Tightrope

The following morning, Louis woke up, still curled around his mate. He smiled, the mornings always being his favorite part of the day. It was just theirs. No Ichi, no society, just him and Legosi, alone.

The early morning light seeped through their makeshift blinds, allowing the herbivore to see Legosi more clearly than he could at night. The wolf's already soft features were so much softer when he slumbered.

The buck squeezed him more, then remembered what they had made the previous day. He moved his head to look down at the pink lace underwear Legosi still donned. They were nice...but he preferred sleeping naked with the wolf.

Legosi yawned, unleashing a waft of dog breath as he mumbled softly.

"Blegh...what was that?" Louis answer was a long wolf tongue to the nose. The deer giggled. "Good morning to you, too."

Legosi, still asleep, said, "Where the...the...Dionaea..."

"What?"

"Mmn, Haru has some...they eat bugs..."

"Oh, plants?"

"Plant...they can eat bugs too..." Legosi nuzzled into Louis' collarbone.

"You want bugs to get eaten?"

Legosi's ears twitched. "...Why is bug eaten?"

"I'm lost."

"...Let me look for directions." Legosi's large hands began to knead into the deer's chest and stomach.

"Eheheh...Go ahead." Louis kissed the top of his head.

Legosi kept kneading before letting out a slight whine from his throat.

"What's wrong?"

"Lou? Where are you, Lou?" He whined more.

"I am right in front of you, hon." He kissed the tip of his ear.

"I c-can't see...where are you..."

"I am literally right here. Can't you feel me?" He licked him.

Legosi let out a slow breath and his body relaxed. "Mmm...mm..."

"Open your eyes," Louis commanded.

A breath huffed out of the wolf's nose, and his eyes fluttered. He looked up groggily at the deer.

Louis smiled with all the love and affection he could muster. "Good morning."

Legosi smiled back. "G'morning," he whispered. He moved his legs around. "Mmm...comfy."

"What is? Me?"

"Yeah...and the underwear."

"I mean, bare wolf butt is better, but it is nice for sexy times," Louis chuckled.

"Mmm, yeah." Legosi sat up slowly, his fur sticking out every which way like usual. "So...no work for me today...and Ichi hasn't contacted you...what should we do?"

"We give it a few to see if he does and then...I don't know."

"Hmm, have you thought about what your therapy project should be?"

"While I was sleeping? Not particularly."

"Hmm...I think I'll get around to asking Kai to help make that website for the bug shop and I'll help out. That'll be my project." Legosi laid his head back down.

"I figured. You talked about it a few days ago," Louis explained. "That will be good for both of you."

"Yeah, but now I can use it for the project thing! Kind of feels like cheating..."

"Why do you think that?"

Legosi shrugged. "I don't know! Because I have one and you don't, I guess..."

"I really can't even think about it. I don't know how to schedule anything with the constant threat of Ichi calling." Louis' ears flattened.

"Mmm...yeah...this will be hard." Legosi looked around, squinting. "Hmm, I need to see the eye doctor soon too..."

"Has it gotten worse?"

"No, but now I'm noticing it more. I guess I just got used to it."

"And now you...aren't?"

"I don't know. I guess it's not normal to not be able to read stuff from far away. I guess I just thought that was normal."

"Is that a joke?"

Legosi cocked his head. "Mh? No..."

"Oh...Sorry." Louis pet his head. "How are you feeling?"

"Kinda tired still." Legosi rested his head on Louis' shoulder.

Louis pulled him closer. "Aw...we don't have to do anything, if you don't want to."

The stillness of the room was interrupted by the buzz of Louis' phone, which caused both animals to jump with their ears up. "No, nooo..." He grabbed it and looked at who was calling.

It was an unknown number. Again. Legosi clutched to him.

The deer answered. "Hello?"

"Helloooo? This better be the right number. Of a certain deer and wolf couple?" Well, it certainly wasn't Ichi. The voice was higher in pitch and less monotone.

"Oh? Who's asking?" Louis asked.

"We met at a really fun club! We came to a mutually beneficial agreement! Any of this clickin'?"

"What? No."

Legosi moved toward the receiver. "Melon-san? Is that you?"

"Ah, there we go. Now I can stop being discreet. It's Melon. I'm calling because I'd like to cash in on some info on Ichi and his goons."

"Right now?"

"I'd prefer in person, since you said your room is more or less compromised." The hybrid kept a casual tone, but it held authority nonetheless.

"Legosi will meet you. I think it would be too dangerous for me to go, especially since it's in the black market. We shouldn't take that risk."

"Oh, no we would meet in the main streets, since it seems like those guys don't operate outside much, aside from the spying." Melon took a moment to think. "Legosi isn't being watched?"

"We're both being watched, but they only have one sparrow that does the scouting."

"Then split up. I'm sure you'll be their first priority to watch. Run some errands or something."

"Alright. Where exactly should he meet you?"

"A place he usually goes, as to not be suspicious."

Legosi rubbed his chin. "Well...there's the cafe...or the park...or the mall…"

"You don't usually go anywhere, to be honest. I guess the mall."

"Alright then, I'll head over now. Don't keep me waiting too long, Legosi." And then he hung up.

Legosi cleared his throat. "Uh, he didn't say where in the mall, though..."

"You'll find him. He's probably using a burner phone, but I can give you his number," Louis said.

"Okay. How about all of the information? Maybe you should write it down..."

"He just said 'some info'," Louis began. "I don't even know exactly what he wants to know."

"I guess anything you feel is important. Something that would be useful to know if fighting them?"

"They seem very skilled. You have to remember, on my first mission I wasn't exactly the most clear-headed."

Legosi nodded. "Alright, let's try to write everything down that you can remember."

Legosi walked into the mall, noting the lack of crowds due to it being a Wednesday morning. Louis had seen him off not too long ago, parting ways to go grocery shopping. He seemed worried, but that made sense. Not knowing what else to do, Legosi made his way to Big Bundle of Bugs to tell Mel about his plan to build their website.

That meeting took no less than ten minutes, since the chameleon had already heard Legosi mention the idea. He walked out of the store and leaned on the railing just outside, overlooking the place. He figured he should call Melon.

"Excuse me, sir, might I ask that you join me for brunch?"

The speaker's scent reached his nose directly after he heard them. That familiar yet odd scent of carnivore and herbivore. Legosi whipped around and looked down at the face of a leopard wearing a medical mask. HIs eyes were nearly closed, squinting up at him.

"M-Melon-san?" the wolf blinked.

"Greetings, Legosi-kun. Shall we head to the food court?"

The two made their way through the mall. Legosi noted that Melon bought both an herbivore meal and a carnivore meal, which he claimed was a treat for Legosi but once they sat down he ate both.

"Melon-san, you enjoy both carnivore and herbivore meals?"

The hybrid looked up from where he was lathering his meal in dipping sauces. He had pulled his mask down, allowing Legosi to see him sneer. "Heh, 'enjoy'? I don't 'enjoy' anything. It all tastes like sand to me, but my stomach isn't satisfied with one or the other, regardless."

Legosi's ears folded. "I'm sorry..."

"Why would you be?"

The wolf flinched at the suddenness of the reply. "Well, because it sounds like it's tough. You really can't taste it?"

"Not a thing."

"Y-yeah."

Legosi nodded sadly and started to eat his own food as Melon ate his own, the copious amounts of condiments dropping from his mouth.

After a few minutes of silent eating, Melon's eyes parted a bit, revealing their feline nature. "So, tell me what Louis has learned."

Legosi looked up. "Uh, um, his name is, uh, Shi."

Melon chuckled. "I'm not stupid. I looked into you guys once we were done with our meeting. Wanted to make sure you were trustworthy. Seems your deer boy's got connections. Horns is a powerful company, and the Shishigumi has done under the table dealings with them before. Definitely something to consider moving forward."

Legosi swallowed. "Uh, y-yeah."

"Why so nervous?" the hybrid asked, grinning.

"W-well, Louis doesn't trust you...and you're the leader of a black market organization..."

Melon took another bite and swallowed. "I kill my enemies, Legosi. As of now, you two aren't my enemy. Stay that way, and I won't kill you. It's really that simple."

The wolf nodded. "O-okay."

Melon leaned forward on the table with his elbows. "Now...tell me what Louis has found out."

Legosi pulled out the folded piece of paper he had been given earlier, unfolding it and clearing his throat before reading in a monotone voice. "Members of the Branded: Ichi. Red deer. Uses a gun and Imaginary Chimera. Wears a lion mask.

"Ni. Serow. Uses a sickle. Wears a bear mask.

"San. Alpaca. Fights hand to hand, but usually just plans. He wears a hawk mask.

"Go. Red panda. Uses fake claws and wears a fox mask. Very aggressive and likes violence.

"Roku. Horse. He scouts but Louis hasn't seen him do much else. He wears an alligator mask.

"Hachi. Elk. They use a katana and wear a snake mask. They don't talk.

"Kyuu. Rabbit. Wears a panda mask and sheaths knives in her ears. She also uses ropes.

"Juu. Sparrow. The group uses her for spying. Louis has heard her talk about using poison darts."

Melon sat there, listening intently. Once Legosi was done with the role call, he sighed. "To think all of those nice masks are going to such a shitshow group. Did he write down anything else about them? Weaknesses, maybe?"

The canine looked at the paper again. "Uh, no. He mentioned that to join, you have to spill your own blood into a vial that you wear around your neck, and the only way into their base is through an underground tunnel that's guarded 24/7. They also have a lot of guns and weapons and money that they get from other gangs."

"Hmm, I gathered that much." Melon took a sip of his drink. "He needs to get a layout of their base to see how it'd fare in a coordinated attack. It's no secret where they're located but sending out scouts to infiltrate it ends with them not coming back, and the Shishigumi is low on members already." He looked pointedly at Legosi after saying that. "That stays between you and I, dog. Understand?"

"U-understood."

Melon propped his head up on one hand. "So, was that it?"

"Uh, yeah. That's all he wrote."

"I guess that's good for now. You don't seem like the greatest go-between but the deer probably wants to avoid me. That makes sense. Most animals do."

Legosi's claws scraped against the table slightly. "M-Melon-san! I don't want to avoid you! I'm scared of you because of the line of work you're in, not because you're a hybrid. Like I said, I underst-"

"Understand?" Melon laughed. "You understand nothing. You feel love and are loved. You look a bit quirky, but otherwise you pass as a full blooded gray wolf. Not the same for me. You don't understand my situation." He ended his mini rant with a tinge of malice in his voice.

"That's true, Melon-san. I don't understand completely, but I do know that my mother suffered for being a half-content hybrid. I know she needed help. I just want you to know that...I care, I guess." Legosi rubbed the back of his head, knowing Louis wouldn't approve of him opening up so much. "I've never met an adult hybrid before, so I just want you to know how I feel."

Melon stared at him with an indiscernible emotion. "So am I your new mom now?"

"What? No, don't think of it like that! I-"

Melon held up his free clawed hand. "Just shut up. I don't care about what you think your reasoning is. Just keep your distance."

Legosi held his head lower. "A-actually, I was wondering if maybe...you'd have some advice for me."

The hybrid grumbled. "I told you, I'm not your mom."

Legosi shook his head. "No, I mean, I...want to get stronger. This situation has me feeling helpless, and I know the potential my body has that I'm not utilizing. I'm sure you or your group would know how I could get better at fighting. Better at defending myself and the animals I care about."

Melon looked at Legosi for a long while, almost dissecting him with his gaze, while the wolf looked back at him, giving him a puppy dog stare, although he was not doing it consciously like he would with Louis. Eventually, Melon sighed and shrugged. "It would help to have another body. Just know if we're training your body to be a weapon, we aim to use it as one. Against herbivores."

Legosi gulped and nodded slowly. "I understand."

Melon continued to observe him. "Just remember that felines are not very keen on canines, and my boys are no exception."

"I know. I did meet one of them, actually. He had glasses. I bought a gun from him under Louis' orders."

Melon's ear twitched. "Ibuki? He's my second in command."

"He didn't give me a name."

"Well, I'll ask him about it. I just hope you two aren't afraid to get your hands dirty."

"I'll do it for Louis. He..." Legosi trailed off, thinking about what Louis told him about sharing information. But this had to do with the Branded. "...On Saturday they raided an establishment run by the Okamigumi. They were selling kids. They killed everyone there and freed them."

"Ah, we heard about that, despite the Okamigumi trying to keep it secret. We've begun to bolster up our defenses on our business side of things. Do you know how that operation went?"

"Yeah..." Legosi shuddered, recalling the state Louis had been in when he told the story. "They disarmed them with no trouble and then fought them one on one. Since they had no weapons, they stood no chance."

Melon harrumphed quietly. "Won't have to worry about that with the Shishigumi. They're all trained to fight without weapons if need be."

"That's...good." Legosi poked at what was left of his food. "Melon-san...you don't...kill innocent animals, do you?"

The hybrid looked at him with a deadpan expression. "Are you going to deny my help if I tell you?"

Legosi shook his head. "N-no, but I just want to know..."

"Well, it depends on how you define 'innocent'. Frankly, I believe it's a made up word that holds no meaning. However, the Shishigumi only deal with folk in the black market. All business. I, personally, have killed and devoured many animals in the past in an attempt to awaken my instincts. Nothing ever worked, of course. Leading the Shishigumi is a welcome distraction."

The wolf's blood ran cold, and he felt dizzy. And yet, he still couldn't feel hate for the animal in front of him. He felt sorry for him. Of course, he knew enough not to show that. He figured he would react to it much the same way Louis did last year.

"I...understand, Melon-san. Thank you for answering my question."

Melon smiled, showing his fangs. "You're welcome."

They both finished their meal in silence, Legosi still feeling conflicted. He wanted to be disturbed to be near this other animal. He wanted to condemn him and have nothing to do with him. He understood that Melon would probably react negatively if he or Louis tried to call off the deal, but that wasn't the only thing keeping him there. Perhaps what Melon said was true about his mom.

Regardless, everything about this hybrid fascinated him. He wanted to get to know him.

Melon stood up to take his trash away, and Legosi followed. "M-Melon-san!"

"Ye?" he answered, annoyed.

"What are your parents like?"

Melon immediately stopped in his tracks and stiffened. "My mother ate my father before I knew him. She was also the first animal I killed. You won't bring them up again."

"Y-yes, sir."

Melon turned to him, although he didn't look the wolf in the eye. "Seems like you're my contact for this, so give me your number now. Let's meet up weekly for this. I'll pick you up and drive you to the Shishigumi base discreetly for future meetings."

"O-okay."

"Remember, tell Louis to focus on learning about the layout of their base, and if there are any alternate ways in. Also find out if any of the members have weaknesses."

"Got it."

Melon smoothed the wrinkles from his colorful button up shirt. "I'll be going, now. See you next week."

"Y-yeah!" Legosi bowed to him. "Goodbye, Melon-san!"

The gazelle-leopard turned and walked off, and Legosi could hear him say 'What a fuckin' weirdo.' under his breath.

Legosi left soon after, texting Kai about when they could meet up as he headed back home.

Legosi unlocked the door to their apartment, spying Louis napping on the futon as well as some new blinds over the windows. He took his shoes off as well as the rest of his clothes before walking over and laying down next to him, tail thumping on the ground.

Louis sensed that his lover was near and his eye opened, his lips curling into a smile. He didn't say anything, just to enjoy the peaceful moment.

The wolf ran his finger over the silky material of his new eyepatch. "Thought you said you didn't need a new one," he teased.

"What, you don't like it?" Louis teased back.

"I like it." Legosi gave it a kiss. "I see you got blinds. It gives the room a much better ambient, warm lighting."

"Finally. Hopefully Juu doesn't care. I still need to pay her this week."

"Ichi didn't even pay you, did he?"

"Not yet. I don't deserve it, really. I just broke down. Plus, I left before he could."

"You deserve everything." Legosi licked his ear. "Did you get anything else?"

"Groceries and such. Thought I might treat you with some dessert. It's a surprise, though."

"Oh! Now I'm excited!" Legosi's tail thumped harder.

Louis chuckled. "Even with all the shit going on, we've still got us."

"We do." Legosi moved closer to Louis, getting into the position they had been in that morning. "So I told Melon-san everything you wrote down. He wants to meet every Wednesday now, and I'll be brought to their headquarters instead."

"The Shishigumi? Are you sure you feel comfortable with it?"

Legosi nodded, although his face showed how unsure he felt. "I already met one of them when I bought your gun. Also...I might be training there to get better at fighting."

"Training with...Melon?"

"I think? Or the other members."

Louis looked nervous. "What...if they trap you there?"

"Hm? Why would they do that?" Legosi asked as his ear twitched.

"Because animals are terrible? What if they are just trying to make us pawns? What if they force you to kill, just like I have to?"

"Well, Melon told me I may have to kill to protect you. I said that's okay."

"This is just...fucked. I don't like being between these two. Plus, I never want to be pitted against you." Louis covered his face with his hands.

"Pitted against me? What do you mean?"

"Forced to...fight you, or something."

"Well, it will be a secret that I'm going there," Legosi assured.

"And if they find out?!"

"Then...maybe you could come over to the Shishigumi too? I don't know..."

"How would I do that? I'm a part of this group, whether I like it or not. It doesn't take much research to know that my father is the leader of the Horns Conglomerate. I don't want him to be killed!"

Legosi's ears folded. "Uh, um, I dunno..."

Louis squeezed him more. "I'm not yelling at you. Sorry."

"I'll be careful. Also, Melon-san says he wants information on the base's layout and if any of the members have weaknesses."

"I'll do my best...I hate how it constantly feels like we are walking on a tightrope."

Legosi nuzzled him. "But we can still have moments like this..."

"Thank goodness. I might go crazy otherwise."

"So...about that dessert?" The wolf put on his puppy dog eyes.

"Not those eyes again..."

"You're the one that said you'd be making it..."

"Yeah...and?"

"Let's make it!"

"Together?"

"Sure, why not? I love cooking with you."

"And how would it remain a surprise, then?"

"So, you want me to leave while you make it?" Legosi asked, playfully.

"Sheesh. Just make it with me, already. It's more fun that way, anyway," Louis groaned.

"Hehe, okay! What will we make?"

"Have you heard of thumbprint cookies?"

"You do. Then you fill them with jelly."

"Oooh, that sounds interesting." Legosi licked his lips. "Should we make them now, or lay down some more?"

"Just a liiitle more laying."

"Of course." Legosi shifted so he was partially laying on top of Louis. Suddenly, he got an idea. "Maybe...your project should be getting people together to fix up this building?"

"Is it cheating if it was your idea?" Louis joked.

"I don't think it is, but I'm kind of sad if I won't be able to help. But I think you could do a great job with it! You had great ideas for Himiko and Kasumi's shop, after all."

Louis kissed next to his lips. "You're right."

Legosi kissed back. "Because you're talented."

"Mmm..."

The wolf kissed some more. "You are, and this condo will become such a good place to live that everyone will want to live here."

"Everyone?"

"Yep. Because you did such a good job."

"Will it be more expensive?"

"Nope. I mean, the bathrooms are still on the ground floor only."

"But the price will go up if they realize everyone wants to live here."

"No, not in this fantasy. Everyone can afford it," Legosi insisted.

"Oh it's a fantasy now? Actually...I did have a passing thought that I should try and get to know Zaguan. That could be my project, too."

"Oh, the Seal? What brought on that thought?"

"I was thinking of people I don't know very well and he crossed my mind."

"Do you want to talk to him more about sea culture?"

"It's fascinating how different it is than ours. Death is normal for them."

Legosi looked up at him. "So you think getting his perspective might help calm you down?"

"Maybe. If I really am going to...kill someone."

"If you go visit him, I want to go too," Legosi said.

"Really?"

"Of course. I want to know all the neighbors more, too."

"I guess that won't be my project, then."

Legosi's ears drooped. "Oop! Sorry. You can still gather people to fix up the building, though."

"If I ever get the time..."

"Yeah, if Ichi ever gets back to you." Legosi thought for a moment. "Maybe...it's a test. Maybe you're supposed to go back on your own?"

"What? You think so?"

"I have no idea. The whole situation keeps slipping through my fingers. There's no schedule, that's the most frustrating part."

"Crazy animals don't keep a schedule." Legosi moved to lick Louis' forehead.

"You've got that right."

The wolf's large tongue continued to assault the deer's head, getting his fur wet and matted like usual when he did this.

"Okay, okay!" Louis laughed. "Let's make the damn dessert already."

"Now there's a plan!"